Action to help small shops in Reading, Berkshire |
3rd November 2008
Reading East MP, Rob Wilson, and Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West, Alok Sharma, joined forces to launch a campaign on Saturday to help small shops in Reading save money by claiming Small Business Rate Relief. Roughly half of eligible businesses do not claim the relief, according to Conservative Party research. The reason is that many simply don’t know it exists. Yet it could save local shops up to £1,100 per annum. So the Conservatives have created a simple online tool to help firms check their eligibility and print off the form. Rob and Alok have urged small businesses to go online and visit www.conservatives.com/smallshops/ to check if they are eligible. If a business is eligible it can then print out a form, fill it in and send it to their local authority – in this case Wokingham, Reading or West Berks Council’s. The Reading East MP commented, “Our shops and businesses are facing tough times but they are the life blood of our economy and our community. I recently met with representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses and heard first-hand just how difficult life is becoming. Alok and I want to help small businesses in Reading and this new online tool is simple way that we can help firms survive.” Alok added, “I recently conducted a survey of businesses located in the Reading West constituency which revealed that many SMEs are very concerned about how badly the economic downturn will hit them. Our small and medium-sized businesses need financial help now to preserve jobs in the local economy and rate relief is just one way that shops could save themselves up to £1,100 a year - it is absolutely vital we help owners claim the full amount they are owed. Only last week, I was delighted to welcome the Shadow Business Secretary, Alan Duncan, to Reading to champion the work of small businesses and it is important that they get all the help they need to get through this recession.” |
