Save the High St? Tesco helped kill it!
TESCO boss Dave Lewis demands a 20 per cent business rate cut for struggling shops (Mail). I don’t remember anyone offering to pay more business rates so the corner shop, butcher, fishmonger and newsagent could pay less and compete against the supermarkets. Instead, a host of family businesses were ruthlessly destroyed. What goes around comes around.
G. KINGHORN, Newcastle upon Tyne. I FIND it hard to believe that Tesco has the audacity to ask for business rates to be cut for shops in the High Street when supermarkets caused the decline in local shops. There is a large Tesco near where I live, plus at least five smaller Tesco Express stores. perhaps the supermarket chain is peeved because it had to close Tesco Direct online due to competition from the likes of Amazon? Tesco should have remained a grocer and not tried to outdo other shops by selling books, newspapers, greeting cards, household goods and clothes. CHRISTINE HEYDINRYCH,
Worthing, W. Sussex. HOW is taxing the web giants supposed to save High Street stores? people buy online because it is quick and easy. It is often cheaper, too. Buying in the High Street can involve a pricey car park and carrying heavy items. That is if the shop even has the item you want. Taxing web giants will not change any of that. Lower business rates on the High Street stores will do nothing for efficiency. Online, an order can be placed and acknowledged in minutes. It is sad that the High Street is suffering, of course, but that’s progress. The only way to save shops is to ban the web and that isn’t going to happen.
ALAN JACOBS, Biddenham, Beds.
AT LAST a businessman has suggested fairer business rates so online firms pay in line with High Street shops. Dave Lewis of Tesco suggests a 2 per cent levy on goods sold online. I would also suggest that council tax be replaced with a small sales tax so everyone pays for services whenever they buy something. Being taxed as you spend is simple, effective, low-cost and fair.
T. LYDEN, Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey.