Vince Cable vows support for Shropshire firms during Shrewsbury visit
Business secretary Vince Cable pledged his support to county traders during a flying visit to Shropshire.
The Liberal Democrat cabinet member said he was 'painfully aware' of traders' concerns about escalating business rates when he stopped off in Shrewsbury yesterday to meet Lib Dem councillors.
Speaking to the Shropshire Star, he said he understood the 'burden' placed upon small businesses by increased rates.
He said: "The one area local businesses are generally very concerned about is business rates and I am painfully aware of that
"There is an escalator which is built which has been rising less rapidly than inflation overall, but I accept it is a burden.
"What the Government has done is to provide rate relief for small traders, but I think in the long term we need overhaul the whole system of business rates."
Dr Cable said he would continue to help small businesses get access to cash from the banks.
He said: "The major thing we are doing is trying to make sure traders can get access to credit from the banking system.
"The banks were very badly damaged in the financial crisis and they continue to be difficult providing funding and until we get that problem solved it will be very difficult for business to grow the way we want it."
He added that the Government was also siding with town centres in the face of competition from out-of-town developments.
"There has been a big reform of planning but we have retained a town centre first principal which helps town centre traders when they are combatting planning applications from out of the town centre," he said.
During his visit Dr Cable met with Shrewsbury trader John Hall, a member of retail group Shop in the Loop.
They discussed the plans to transform Shrewsbury into a Business Improvement District and the lack of footfall in the town centre. He also visited the Wakeman School where he met campaigners who fought to keep the school open.
Lib Dem councillor for Shrewsbury town centre, Andrew Bannerman said: "It is really good of him to take time from his busy schedule to support us here."