Pembrokeshire traders urged to unite to fight rate rise (From Western Telegraph)

Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies backs Pembrokeshire traders' plans to unite against rate rises

8:50am Tuesday 23rd February 2010 in County News

Pembrokeshire’s chambers of trade are being encouraged to join forces to fight increases in rates bills.

A county-wide campaign against the hikes is to be launched after a working group from Haverfordwest Chamber of Trade met with Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies.

  “We all know that Narberth is being hit incredibly hard by sky-high rates increases but Pembrokeshire’s other towns are also facing large bills,” said Mr Davies.

“The traders told me they are particularly worried that the multiplier – the figure used to calculate the rates – will shoot up next spring. They are worried about the future.”

Mr Davies has now written to local government minister Carl Sargeant asking what reassurances can be given to businesses facing sharp increases in rates bills this April or next spring.

He is also backing the Haverfordwest chamber’s plan to join forces with counterparts in Tenby and Narberth in order to have a stronger voice.

Michael Hughes, who runs the Tom Hughes clothes shops in Narberth, Haverfordwest and Carmarthen and whose family runs TP Hughes in Tenby, says that Pembrokeshire is being harder hit than neighbouring counties by rates hikes.

“What appears to have happened is that the main retail streets in Pembrokeshire are being unfairly penalised,” he said.

“Pembrokeshire seems to be harder hit than Carmarthen. Towns that have been successful are being penalised.

“We are now liaising with Narberth and Tenby chambers of trade to have a bit more clout.”

Mr Davies added: “We do seem to have a special set of circumstances down here in Pembrokeshire which deserve attention from the Welsh Assembly government.”

• Traders are being urged to check their rateable values as business rates bills start landing on their doormats.  The Valuation Office Agency (VOA), which works out the rateable values of all non-domestic properties for business rates liability, is reminding business owners to check that their details are correct and contact them  if they have any concerns.

The VOA’s revaluation project manager, Steve Bliss, said: “It’s important that businesses check their rateable values to make sure the details are correct and contact us if they have any concerns. If the details are wrong we want to correct them now.

“Our website www.voa.gov.uk/valuation has proved very popular and business owners use it to check the details of their rateable values and compare them with others."