Newry Mourne and Down District Councillor Colin McGrath has welcomed the decision of Council which he proposed that a factsheet be drawn up to explain the process of the recent rates increases upon local businesses as a result central government actions.
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Councillor Colin McGrath is concerned at the increase in some business rates in South Down.[/caption]Commenting the SDLP’s Downpatrick Councillor said: “This has been a disastrous process for some businesses literally pushing some of them to the edge and causing them to have to close. Some businesses in our district have seen their business rates bill double and in the tough economic times we are in this has made business survival difficult.
“I am saddened that there is little that council can do as we have no part of this process of revaluation but I am aware that there are some rebates, exclusions and technicalities that may provide some businesses with support and assistance and I have asked that council pool this information together and produce it in the form of a factsheet which can be distributed to help businesses – some in their hour of need.
“I hope this factsheet will be collated and produced quickly and know that colleagues on the Economic, Regeneration and Tourism Committee of Council are doing what they can to pursue this matter with the Mininister.”
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