Shop forced to move af ter 123 YEARS... by SNP taxes
IT has traded from the same prime location for 123 years.
But now Stirling’s longest running shop is moving – because of soaring Scottish Government taxes.
McAree Brothers, founded in 1878, has traded from 55-59 King Street since 1893.
The independent department store, which specialises in knitting materials, haberdashery and crafts, was also known to generations of people as the place to go for school uniforms.
However, the owners of the family business have put the much-loved shop up for sale due to its rising running costs – and plan to downsize and relocate elsewhere in the city.
The owners believe it is no longer feasible to stay in their current premises, located on the main route from the city centre to Stirling Castle.
Lucy Bailey, one of the owners of the business, and the great granddaughter of its original founder, said: ‘We have been hit by the Scottish Government’s property tax.
‘They call it the large business tax but it is based on the size of the property, not on the size of the business. We are now paying more than £27,000 a year in business rates, which puts us in a difficult position, given also the maintenance costs of the building itself.’
The store contacted Stirling Council but no decision on whether to reduce the business rates has yet been made.
‘We decided we couldn’t wait for anything to happen so we have put the premises up for sale,’ Mrs Bailey said, adding: ‘We are not closing as a business. We do 50 per cent of our business on the internet now.’
The property is on the market for offers around £550,000.
Locals have lamented the loss of the ‘Aladdin’s Cave’, however. Nigel Kenny posted online: ‘It’s the longest standing shop in the town, so it’s really the end of an era.’
Margaret Kraemer said: ‘Sorry to see them vacate these premises – another piece of Stirling going.’
A Stirling Council spokesman said: ‘The business rates in Scotland are set nationally by the Scottish Government and, as such, Stirling Council officers do not have the power to change these.’
Stirling Nationalist MSP Bruce Crawford said: ‘It’s disappointing news that McAree Brothers are leaving King Street. I recognise the challenges they have been facing and the Scottish Government is doing what it can to keep the cost of business rates down.’
Tory regional MSP Murdo Fraser said the move was a blow, adding: ‘Overly expensive business rates are crippling city centre firms.’ Stirling Council’s deputy leader, Neil Benny, said: ‘So long as the Scottish Government continues to restrict what we can do on business rates, businesses on the high street will continue to suffer.’
He added: ‘What a shame parliament hasn’t acted. It is this inaction that means historic businesses like McAree buckle under the stress of high taxes.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The Scottish Government is determined to maintain competitive business rates.
‘Almost two-thirds of shops already benefit from rates relief funded by the Scottish Government and we have pledged to expand the Small Business Bonus Scheme from next year so that it lifts 100,000 properties out of rates altogether.’