A petition signed by eighty Narberth businesses protesting against rates increases of up to 300% is handed in at the Welsh Assembly by South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns.
The petition was collected by the town’s chamber of trade in just one week and Mrs Burns is pictured handing it in to Andrew RT Davies, Conservative member of the Assembly’s petitions committee.
“We only had a few days to collect this petition before the National Assembly rose for the Christmas recess and the fact that so many signed it shows the strength of feeling about the rates increases,” said Mrs Burns.
On average, every business in Narberth is facing a 160% increase in rates following a rents revaluation, and some are facing up to 300% hikes.
“The petition calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to conduct an impact assessment on how businesses in the town will be affected by the changes in rateable values,” added Mrs Burns.
“It will now be considered by the petitions committee when it next meets and we hope that if the assessment is carried out it will reveal clearly the devastating effect these increases will have on the town that is considered to be the jewel in Pembrokeshire’s retail crown.”
