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Mar 2020

Business

District welcomes business rates break

Published: 12 Mar 2020, 16:56 GMT

Updated: 15 Mar 2020, 08:29 GMT

by Vicky Carr

Retailers in the Harrogate district have welcomed the news of a break in their business rates to help them deal with the impact of coronavirus.

The announcement in this week’s Budget will see retail, leisure and hospitality firms with a rateable value below £51,000 receive the tax break in the coming financial year.

It has been welcomed by business groups, with both Independent Harrogate (IH) and Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) saying it will be badly needed by businesses worrying about the impact of the pandemic.

Chamber CEO Sandra Doherty said:

“This rates break could mean the difference between businesses surviving into next year and what could otherwise have been many more empty units around our towns. However, we shouldn’t be complacent – this is a short term measure and local businesses still need our support in the coming months and years.”

William Woods of Independent Harrogate also raised concerns about the extent to which businesses would benefit.

“It is just not fair the high street has to pay the lion’s share of tax when online businesses hardly pay anything. It’s only smaller businesses that benefit from rate relief for a year – what about good family businesses like Hoopers that will get no benefit?”

He added that, in the current climate, Independent Harrogate would be renewing its calls to delay any planned increase in parking charges.