City of York Council has urged the Government to reduce rates crippling small businesses within the city.
Kersten England, Chief Executive of the Council, announced plans this week to write to Business Secretary Lord Mandelson pressing the case for a review of the business rates system which has left some businesses in York facing double, or even treble, increases.
Shops, restaurants and most of all pubs, have seen huge leaps in business rates across York this year, with some facing massive increases of almost £12,000.
The implementation of the new rate system has been widely criticised by small business owners and industry experts across the UK, outlining that the rate hike could see the loss of local traders for good as only large national outfits can afford to pay the increased prices.
