Telford businessman ordered to pay £148,000 rates

John Byrne, who ran Cards & Gifts in Telford Shopping Centre, was told he was liable to pay Telford & Wrekin Council £148.926.69 following a two-day hearing at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court.

Mr Byrne had asked for the liability order to be set aside, but magistrates found in favour of the council.

Mr Byrne had contended that limited companies, for which he had been a director of, occupied the premises and that the council should pursue the limited companies for these unpaid rates rather than himself.

The council will also recover legal costs of about £6,000.

Speaking after the case finished, Councillor Lee Carter, the authority's cabinet member for council finance and service delivery, said: "The council has a responsibility to all taxpayers and ratepayers in the borough and is actively pursuing unpaid business rates from companies or individuals.

"Any monies recovered which are due to the council will be reinvested in key front line services to offset the impact of £30 million cuts faced by the council over the next three years."