Chris Evans MP at Tidals store Blackwood.
That was the message from Islwyn MP on a visit to Tidals store in Blackwood.
During his visit Mr Evans was told that those at the top of the High Street in Blackwood, Some shops, are charged £300 per square metre while Tidal Stores is charged £310. Further down the street, shops are charged £320 per square metre. Perhaps most worrying of all, the business park just below the High Street which, houses a number of businesses, is only charged £60 per square metre.
The Islwyn MP also expressed concern that while parking at the business park was free, while there is a charge to park near Blackwood high street.
The Islwyn MP said : ‘Unless urgent action is taken to relieve business rates and improve parking the high street could quickly find itself a relic of the past’
‘Many small and family run businesses could be lost. It would be such a shame to see the high street become a graveyard of boarded up shops. Action needs to be taken before it’s too late’
