OVER RATED

Fight to cut unfair business rates for struggling stores

TORY Business Secretary Greg Clark has suggested business rates could be cut to help struggling town centres.

In a boost for the Mirror’s High Street Fightback campaign, Mr Clark promised action to revitalise blighted shopping areas.

He said the review of rates would recognise the contribution thriv- ing high streets make to community life.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Clark said: “Clearly, the high street is going to change, so planning rules and regulations have to roll with that change to allow the reshaping of high streets. Business rates is a factor.” He added: “My view is... a presence on a high street – quite apart from the turnover that it has – makes a big contribution to the community and to villages, towns and cities. And I think some recognition of that is appropriate.”

The Mirror is calling for a new fund to revive town centres and a change in planning laws to make it easier to convert disused shops for offices, leisure or housing.

We also want online retailers to pay their fair share of business rates, an end to rip-off parking charges in towns and councils to have more compulsory purchase powers for neglected shop sites.

Retail chiefs have repeatedly warned that stores have been battered by high business rates, while firms such as Amazon – which bases its huge depots out of town – pay far less.

More than 50,000 retail jobs have been lost and 51,000 high street businesses closed in the past year.