Plan support for small businesses now before we lose them, says Newton Abbot Green Corinne Lindsey

By PRSD, on Friday, April 30, 2010

Corinne Lindsey, the Green Party candidate for Newton Abbot Constituency has been meeting small business traders in Newton Abbot yesterday.

Like many small market towns Newton Abbot has to compete with larger neighbours such as Torbay, Exeter and Plymouth. In recent years the town has had to deal with the development of the large ASDA store in the town centre. As she talked to traders Corinne found a mix of feelings about the effect the superstore has had. The more specialist traders have found little difference. However, the last couple of years has seen a number of enterprises cease trading, and the town has lost the fish monger from the market place – a direct victim of competition from the ASDA development.

Corinne told the PRSD: “What we are seeing in Newton Abbot, is a once vibrant town losing the variety and personal experience that small traders provide. It is the small traders who bring character and help to distinguish the town from other towns of comparable size – this is something shoppers and residents value.

“I’ve been told today that rent and rates alone in Market Walk are over £1,500 per week and while Torbay offers traders concessions on rates to help them develop their businesses, Teignbridge District Council refuse to even discuss the possibility of such help.”

The redevelopment of Princesshay in Exeter and the Armada Centre in Plymouth has encouraged shoppers to travel to the wider variety of shops now available in these cities. Newton Abbot traders expressed their concerns that increasingly, Newton Abbot is unable to compete without greater support that encourages enterprise, variety and innovation.

Corinne said: “Newton Abbot has coped fairly well with the current down turn, but the lack of imagination from the district council risks it becoming a bargain basement town centre, lacking the variety, entrepreneurial spirit and jobs that small businesses can provide. The three main parties are all agreed that cuts to public services must be made.

“if we are to avoid mass closure of small shops throughout Teignbridge during the austerity these parties plan, we need to support small businesses, not handicap them with a lack of vision and determination to help small-scale enterprises succeed.”

Caption for Main Image: Corinne calls for more support for small businesses

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David

Well firstly, Bex is right your freepost leaflet is (or says it is) printed in Sussex. RYR's is printed by a local firm. It’s a bit rich, to listen sympathetically Newton Abbot traders tell you they are loosing trade to Exeter and then off you go to Exeter to get your printing done!

Secondly: You are blaming the district council – sorry district councillors for something totally out of their control. Business Rates are set nationally. I’m well aware of the difficulty that local small businesses are facing with increasing rent and rates. That’s why I’ve spent hours helping retailers get their rates reduced. I successfully appealed on behalf of a Teignmouth business - Animal Allsorts, getting their rates reduced from £5,200 to £3,900 (which means they can apply for Small Business Rate Relief and save even more).There are other examples, but I need to respect their confidentiality. I’ve helped other business people claim SBRR.

Lastly Corinne you said: ‘lack of imagination from the DISTRICT COUNCIL’ not councillors –. Unison members are singularly unimpressed, perhaps they have poor political interpretation skills like me.

So the Federation of Small Businesses, Audit Commission, Devon and Cornwall Business Forum have all got it wrong, ok give us some evidence that Teignbridge councillors are to blame, and why not county and town councillors.

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Corinne Lindsey

Just a couple of comments in response to the Liberal Democrat, David.

Firstly, our leaflets, for Newton Abbot Constituency, were printed in Exeter. Yes, not Teignbridge, but in this area. The window posters are printed in Oxford, by Oxford GreenPrint. I guess that you are saying Sussex simply because Caroline Lucas has a very good chance of winning there.

Secondly, what I am raising is the difficulty that local small businesses, particularly retailers, face when having to find such large sums for rent and rates. From what we have been told by small retailers they simply do not receive sufficient consideration. If we get the levels of cuts to services that the three big parties want to make, that support will wither further unless we start putting into practice ways to help ensure small retailers survival.

Lastly, it is the councillors controlling the district council we view as responsible for the decline of variety and innovation on our high streets of the towns of Teignbridge, not and never those who work for the council. That is simple a poor political interpretation of what we said. It is the councillors from whom we would like to see leadership and a proactive approach to the issues we face and will be facing.

graham

David,

Thanks for the clarification!

You're right Graham; I think Ms Lindsey is confused by something called Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) - which helps small businesses get reduced business rates. It’s a long story, but basically as part of the Credit Crunch Commission, Teignbridge revenue officers and economic development officers teamed up and created a system of identifying businesses that might qualify (district councils collects the business rates). Teigbridge contacted the small businesses and shops, helping the qualifying small businesses complete the forms.

An estimated 95% of small businesses get SBRR in Teignbridge saving them thousands of pounds. Teignbridge’s approach has been commended by the Federation of Small Businesses; Torbay is now following Teignbridge’s good example. Some businesses think Teignbridge can choose who gets SBRR, it can’t, it’s a national scheme, so they would be no better off in Torbay.

Bex,

Everything I've had through the letterbox from the Tories has come from London so you have a good point. The other point is that business rates are set centrally which is why they are called National Non Domestic rates (NNDR)so blaming the District Council who only set about 11% of the Council Tax anyway is a little misleading.

bex

Actions speak louder than words. The Liberal Democrat election address has been printed by a local printer in Newton Abbot. The Green Party’s in Sussex - so much for supporting local businesses. UKIP's is printed in Cornwall, Labour's in Essex, yet to see the Tory one.

Do you mean indecisive?

Audit Commission disagrees with you: "Strong leadership from councillors and senior managers', was singled out for praise, as was the council's practical work to help local people and local businesses cope with the recession over recent months."

Margaret Davenport

What else would you expect from a undecisive liberal lead council.

What an insult to the hard working public servants at Teignbridge Council! Far from lacking in vision and initiative, they received an award for their work.