Businesses in Montgomeryshire are among over 70 leading companies and chambers of commerce in Wales to call on the Welsh Government to extend the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme.
The extension would effectively abolish business rates on rateable values up to £12,000.
Businesses in Montgomeryshire have signed a letter to First Minister Carwyn Jones calling him to extend the scheme.
Retailers in Newtown, Welshpool and Machynlleth are among the businesses that have signed the letter calling for the rate relief extension.
“There is a need for small businesses with a rateable value of up to £12,000 to have 100 per cent rate relief and relief tapered from 100 per cent to zero per cent for those with a rateable value of up to £15,000,” said Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George.
“Montgomeryshire is made up of predominantly small businesses that would benefit from such an extension, supporting their growth in rural areas where employment and investment is critical.”
The letter, which has been signed by over 70 businesses and organisations in Wales, was sent to First Minister Carwyn Jones by the Welsh Conservatives.
The move would see 73 per cent of business taken out of rtes altogether and a further five per cent benefiting from tapered relief.
“Small businesses such as ours are under constant financial pressure as we compete with the internet and have higher transportation costs due to our location,” said Norma Rowlands of Harold Owen China Shop.
“Any help from the government to ease these pressures would be welcomed and that includes an extension to the Business Rate Relief Scheme,” said Paul Alexander of Alexanders in Welshpool.
Mr George added: “Our local businesses need all the help they can get to help them grow and prosper and I’ll be pursuing this with the First Minister and Business Minister.”
