Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski tackles Chancellor over business rates

Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, told Philip Hammond that a large number of businesses in his constituency were concerned about rate rises that followed a recent revaluation.

He urged Mr Hammond to address the problem in his Budget on Wednesday next week.

Mr Kawczynski said he told the Chancellor he had received "very strong representations" from traders in Shrewsbury town centre who were extremely concerned that they were being adversely affected by the changes.

"In Shrewsbury we have a very large number of small retail units in the high street, but the business rate reorganisation seems to have favoured the large multiple companies," he said.

"I have asked him to see what additional rates support he can give."

Mr Kawczynski said the pub trade seemed to have been particularly badly hit by the increases, and was aware that The Salopian Bar in Smithfield Road was suffering as a result.

"He did say that there was a special fund that pubs could apply for, so I will now being looking in to how many pubs that have been affected are actually aware of this," he said.

"From what I understand the take-up of this has been very low."

Mr Kawczynski said the Chancellor did not divulge any details of his Budget, but was confident that it would include measures to tackle the problem.

Oliver Parry, licensee of The Salopian Bar, has said his award-winning pub could go out of business if he is not successful in an appeal to get a hike in his rates overturned.

Earlier this year shopkeepers in Ludlow launched a campaign protesting against the hikes in their rates.

More than 1,000 small businesses can now apply for a share of a multi-million pound rate relief fund.

Shropshire Council has been awarded just over £2.2 million to give to businesses as part of a discretionary relief scheme over the next four years.

It says that there are more than 1,000 businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £200,000 that have seen an increase in their rates. The total increase for the businesses is estimated to be around £1.5 million.

The council has said that letters have been sent to the businesses containing an amended business rates bill, explaining the scheme and advising them they need to tell the authority within 14 days if they intend to claim the relief.

David Minnery, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for finance, said: “The discretionary scheme will reduce the business rate liability of qualifying businesses. This scheme will ensure that an additional £1.3m is put into Shropshire’s business economy this year, helping local businesses that have seen the largest increases in their business rate liability.”