Town centres in new threat from tax hike

STRUGGLING town centres will be among the worst hit by a new wave of tax hikes.

A Mirror investigation has shown how our community facilities face more pressure.

Libraries, pubs, police stations and post offices will be caught in a £730million surge in business rates planned from next April.

Restaurants, pharmacies and banks also face another sharp rise. It would take the rise since a review of rates two years ago to £1.8billion, research shows.

The new threat to town centres has led to calls for Chancellor Philip Hammond to abandon next year’s rates increase in his Budget.

The Mirror is also urging the reform of rates in our High