I enjoyed listening to local business owners and reps from Oxted’s and Caterham's Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), but boy are they having a hard time.
The high street is being crushed. Every week seems to deal a new blow - higher taxes, more red tape, another cost imposed by government.
One mentioned their business rates had more than doubled in the past two years.
These risktakers drive our economy. Long days and nights, putting off time with their loved ones, bringing life to our towns and villages. We need more, not less of this ambition.
It’s also sad to see that Coughlans Bakery will go because of these higher costs, but they won’t be the only one.
The Conservative would make spending cuts to fund plans to scrap business rates for all high street businesses and cut the cost of electricity for businesses by 20%.
Please do support our high street business where you can. It’s tough out there.
