Narberth public meeting forces rates re-think (From Western Telegraph)

Narberth public meeting forces rates re-think

10:50am Sunday 22nd November 2009 in

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Civil servants have promised to review the controversial 200% plus hike in business rateable values in Narberth after a public meeting in the town.

Seventy business people turned up to meet a representative of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) which sets the rates.

The meeting was called by AM Angela Burns who said she was delighted that the agency’s Brian Jones agreed with her suggestion to look into Narberth’s exceptionally large jump in rateable values.

Shops, restaurants, pubs and hotels in Narberth have seen their rateable values increase on average from £3,800 to £12,000 in the latest revaluation.

Michael Hughes who runs the Tom Hughes clothes shop is facing a 310% increase in his rates bill.

He said: “I also have a shop in Carmarthen where my bill is £350 per square metre. But in Narberth the bill is £450 – it’s absolutely bonkers.”

Gordon Barry from Narberth’s Chamber of Trade added: “The VOA has fundamentally got its maths wrong.”

Mrs Burns explained: “The meeting agreed to form a group of about six traders from all parts of town and covering a number of different types of business who will now collate evidence to give to Mr Jones.

“He has promised to review this in the next few weeks and he will hopefully return in early December to give us his findings.”

The traders also agreed to collect a petition calling on the Welsh Assembly to take action.

The two-hour meeting at the Old Courthouse was also attended by Pembrokeshire County Council’s head of revenue services, Kerry MacDermott and head of economic development, Kefin Wakefield.

Mrs Burns has lobbied local government minster Brian Gibbons to increase the rateable exemptions and extend rate relief and she encouraged traders to write to him as well.

“In Northern Ireland, the revaluation has been postponed and in England more rate relief will be available for smaller businesses,” she said.

“We need similar help in Wales, especially in towns like Narberth which have been singled out for ridiculous rises.”

MP Nick Ainger has agreed there is a need for an “urgent review” of the Narberth valuations, which appeared to have been based on comparisons with other town centres in Wales.

Following a meeting with Welsh Assembly local government minister Brian Gibbons, he has been told that work is underway on a package to help local businesses facing big rate rises.

Mr Ainger added: “Action is needed or else we may see businesses closing and jobs being lost.”