Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Crawley, Henry Smith, has reiterated local criticism of Crawley’s Labour-controlled Borough Council’s plans to hike rents for firms on Tilgate Parade, with some increases as high as 30 per cent.
Henry said;
“Tilgate Parade shop owners have spoken clearly with me, with local Conservative councillors, and with Crawley Borough Council at the ballot box in clear opposition to Labour’s rent hikes.
“Indeed, as a result of the Crawley Borough Council Tilgate by-election in September – won by the Conservatives – it’s clear that the Labour council has no mandate to pursue its policy of rent increases.
“The shops on our local parades are more than just sources of income for the Borough Council; they provide goods, services and employment to hard-working people.”
Nationally since 2016, the Conservatives have provided around £13 billion worth of business rates relief. Cutting costs for businesses has boosted their funds available for investment, expansion, new jobs and higher wages. Over a third of the smallest properties already pay no business rates because of small business rates relief.
600,000 businesses have been taken out of paying business rates altogether. In April 2017, the Conservatives permanently doubled the rate of small business rate relief and increased the threshold for eligibility, meaning that 600,000 small businesses now pay no business rates at all. Business rates have been cut for small retailers by a third for two years – saving 90 per cent of all shops, pubs and restaurants up to £8,000.
Henry continued;
“The Conservative Party 2019 Manifesto pledges to cut the burden of tax on business by reducing business rates.
“In contrast, the Tilgate Forum took the decision not to put up public Christmas decorations on the parade this year due to the cost of rent increases. It’s wrong for Labour to hike rents and cancel Christmas.”
Henry Smith
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Crawley
As Parliament has now been dissolved there are no MPs until after the 12th December 2019 General Election.
Phone: 01293 934554
Email: henry.smith@crawleyconservatives.org.uk
www.facebook.com/HenrySmith4Crawley
www.twitter.com/HenrySmithUK
www.youtube.com/HenrySmithMP
Promoted and published by Tom Liddiard, on behalf of Henry Smith, both of Crawley Business Centre, Stephenson Way, Three Bridges, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1TN.