Council don’t get it on level of rates increase

The business rates are due for a four per cent rise again. They say that this is below inflation instead of looking at the real picture.

Businesses are closing down left, right and centre and its the business rates, in the middle of a recession, that are completely crippling the business sector in the town.

The footfall has dropped considerably in the last five years and the rates keep going up.

Traders in Lisburn need help with rates because our town is slowly becoming a ghost town.

If rates were fairly calculated in line with the current downturn it would help businesses to survive and entice new businesses to open up in the empty premises in Lisburn.

The bottom line is that traders in Lisburn will not survive if the council doesn’t act quickly.

Realist