Following the failure of the government’s proposals for Sunday trading hours to be relaxed, experts feel it is now time to reform the High Street in order to help it every day of the week.
The Chancellor announced a “full review of the structure of business rates” fifteen months ago but has yet to outline the changes that The British Independent Retailers Association(Bira) feel are needed.
Bira welcomes the clarity provided by the vote and stresses the urgency of the need to move on.
Small shops will have to turn over nearly a billion pounds extra this year just to earn the profits to pay increased rates bills.
In 2015 small shop turnover fell by more than a billion, according to official figures, so this is going to be more than challenging.
Bira CEO Alan Hawkins commented: “The government said that the aim of devolving control of trading hours was designed to help the High Street.
“The messy solution that was proposed has now been cleared out of the way, but the government has an opportunity in next week’s Budget to put right a short term error, reinstating the £1,500 discount, and to announce long term reform that will make a difference to the High Street each and every day in the future.”
The bira reform proposals can be downloaded here: www.bira.co.uk/assets/download/2981
