Todmorden News

Budget Gives Major Lift To Small Local Businesses

Calder Valley’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Steph Booth has welcomed a series of measures in yesterday’s Budget, which she says will give local traders in Calder Valley much needed “breathing space” to help our economy through to recovery.

“It’s been a difficult time for small businesses here in Calder Valley but I know from speaking to traders that many were heartened by the Budget announcement to introduce a temporary increase in Small Business Rate Relief in properties with rates of less than £6,000,” she said. “The change in Rate Relief will mean that 345,000 small firms across the country won’t pay any business rates at all next year. This will be a big help to many shops, industrial sites and offices in Calder Valley.”

She also welcomed announcements on billions of new lending from state controlled banks for small businesses, an extension of the Time to Pay scheme, which gives businesses more time to pay their tax bills and an appeals process for small businesses who feel they have been unfairly treated by banks.

After taking part in a live televised debate by Sky News on the Budget yesterday, Mrs Booth met up with a local business owner who had opened his business in Hebden Bridge during the recession. Alan Cunningham from The Square Café had been approached by Sky as part of the debate. He told Sky presenter Kay Burley that he would be voting Labour because they were the party most committed to “supporting our economic recovery”.

Speaking after her meeting, Mrs Booth said it was important that the Government did everything it could to lock in the recovery and support firms that were the lifeblood of local communities.

“It’s good to see someone with business confidence at a time when our economy is fragile,” she said. “This is just the kind of attitude we need. It’s absolutely vital that we support small businesses to help our local economy recover and yesterday’s Budget made a firm commitment to doing that. It’s been welcomed by the Federation of Small businesses and it shows our number one priority is economic growth. I want to see our Council doing the same and stepping up their efforts to help fill empty shops and improve shopping areas.”