Rates worries as four shops close on one street

FOUR shops on a Cardiff street have closed in the last six months prompting concerns from traders about the impact business rates are having on their abilities to survive.

The AGA shop on Caerphilly Road in Birchgrove closed its doors last Friday and follows in the footsteps of Reliant letting agents which moved to Cathays Terrace, Blush hair and beauty, and Mr Tikka takeaway which closed last October.

The closure means there are now five empty retail units on Caerphilly Road which underwent a regeneration programme funded by Cardiff council at the end of last year to provide more parking spaces and create a new pedestrian crossing.

Traders pointed to issues including business rates and car parking as a possible explanation for the closures.

Ian Ashford, manager of Diablo Bar and Grill, said: “The regeneration has only been a positive. The problem is that small businesses are running on a shoestring and get no help.

“We have business rates which are £27,500 per year, which is more than rent, then you have to pay VAT, then you have to pay to have tables and chairs out the front, then you have to pay for waste services.

“For any small business to succeed we have to be supported by government and that has not happened.

“Having fewers shops reduces the footfall and reduces people in the area and that can have a knock-on effect for other businesses.”

Paul Clough, owner of Younger’s Fish Bar, added: “Rates are high and rents are high. Rates went generally up. They are reviewed every five years so everyone has suffered.

“It’s not helpful to have empty units. There has been a reduction in daytime footfall but in the evenings it has risen. People generally don’t walk here, they drive and the problem has been the lack of parking.”

But Flora Lazarou, from Lazarou Brother’s salon and barbershop, said the problem was not exclusive to Birchgrove and business owners should remain positive.

She said: “Parking is a problem but it is an issue everywhere. Business rates are high but they are high everywhere. We have been here for 21 years and I would not say that the situation has got worse.

“Everyone just has to do the best they can because it is a difficult time.

“It is really difficult running busi- nesses nowadays. We’ve been here 21 years and the difference in terms of overheads is ridiculous.

“If anything, the government needs to try and help small businesses more.”

A Welsh Government spokesman “We have listened to the concerns of businesses and announced an extra £20m of support for small businesses in 2017-18, through a transitional support scheme and a high street rate relief scheme. These are in addition to the £100m Small Business Rates Relief scheme. As a result, more than threequarters of all ratepayers will receive help to pay their bills.”