Businesses based around Pembrokeshire’s ports threatened by a controversial hike in rates have been given a glimmer of hope.

The system by which business rates are charged for dock-based companies is due to change under the government plans.

Instead of being charged to the port owners, rates will be charged to individual tenants.

In a move which has angered port tenants across the UK the increased rates could be backdated to 2005.

Several businesses and organisations in Pembrokeshire could be devastated by the plans, including one unnamed dock-based company which could be hit with a £1.2million backdated rates bill this April.

Some tenants on the Milford Haven docks, including Port Engineering and the Waterfront Gallery, would also be affected with possible job losses.

But there is a glimmer of hope after the House of Lords voted against the plans to backdate the rate increases to 2005.

This vote will not kill the new regulations, but the Conservative party is continuing to push Labour into giving up on what they say are unfair taxes which could seriously damage the UK economy.