Mail’s manifesto for rescuing our shops

REFORM BUSINESS RATES

WE’RE calling for a root and branch review of the way business rates are charged to ensure a level playing field between high street stores and online retailers. Firms with high street premises but modest turnovers should not be charged more than online businesses based in warehouses in far cheaper out-of-town locations.

PLAY FAIR ON TAX

OVERSEAS businesses – largely internet firms – are generating billions of pounds of sales in the UK, but through complicated structures are able to reduce their profits to pay small amounts in tax.

This gives them a huge advantage over British-owned firms which pay full corporation tax to the Treasury. A fundamental overhaul of business taxation would reflect total sales generated by foreign firms.

CHEAPER HIGH ST PARKING

COUNCILS made £819 million from parking charges and fines last year and this figure is rising by more than 10 per cent a year. However, small businesses complain that these skyhigh charges are costing them millions in lost trade. Councils must be encouraged to make town centres more car friendly to encourage passing trade – such as making it free to park after 3pm or in certain parts of town. Parking fine appeals could be handed to a national ombudsman service rather than councils.

REVIEW HOW BANKS JUSTIFY BRANCH AND ATM CLOSURES

BANK branches are shutting at a rate of two a day, while 300 cash machines a month are being lost with little justification from the big names.

A plan to charge business rates on ATMs could force even more to close. This deprives neighbouring businesses and residents of vital services, and reduces footfall in town centres.

At the same time, small stores feel cornered and under pressure to install chip and pin machines for contactless payments which charge them a fee for every transaction they carry out.