Scrapping business rates could revive Southport’s struggling high street - Erin Harvey - Liberal Democrat Candidate for Southport.

Erin Harvey, your candidate for Southport, thinks Lib Dem plans to radically reform business rates will help to revive our town’s struggling high street.

The Lib Dems have proposed that business rates would be scrapped and replaced with a commercial landowner levy which would be paid by the owner of the premises rather than the tenant and would be based on the value of the land.

Coffee shop 92 Degrees and Birkdale restaurant Villaggio Cucina are just a couple of the businesses that have recently announced that they have had to close. Whilst new businesses have opened across Southport recently, there is still a huge number of vacant premises on Lord Street and across the town.

Erin said: “The state of Southport’s town centre is something that many residents are concerned about. Lord Street’s retail offering used to be a draw for tourists from across the region and it’s so sad to see how many empty shops there are.

“The business rates burden is one of the reasons why many shops are failing. Rates don’t correlate to sales and so many are paying unsustainable rates. A tax that would fall on the property owners will be fairer and allow more businesses a chance to thrive, particularly small and independent businesses.”

“This would play a major role in once again making Southport a destination which would boost our local economy and show we are a great place to live.”