Liberal Democrats Will Support Medway’s High Streets

Medway's High Streets have seen a real decline in recent years and with Debenhams shutting its store in Chatham High Street next year, it delivers yet another blow to the Town Centre. Debenhams was the centrepiece of the High Street and its closure will have a huge impact on the look of Chatham Town Centre.

Almost one million businesses in the UK have closed in the past three years, analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed, showing how Brexit uncertainty under the Conservatives is hitting our high streets. Liberal Democrats announced over the weekend a series of measures to reverse this decline and boost small businesses.

The Federation of Small Businesses has warned that a no deal Brexit, which Boris Johnson has repeatedly refused to rule out, would mean more damage to firms. Firms are also being held back by the Conservative government's failure to reform business rates, and by new taxes on the self-employed that business groups have described as "disastrous".

The Liberal Democrats would boost small businesses by:

• Scrapping business rates and replacing them with a new land value tax on landlords
• Reviewing taxes to help support the self-employed
• Toughening the prompt payment code to ensure small businesses are paid on time
• Expanding the Future High Streets Fund to support the redevelopment of more town centres and high streets.
• Creating a new Start-Up Allowance, to support business owners with their living costs in the crucial first few weeks of starting a business
• Reforming the apprenticeship levy by creating a wider "Skills and Training Levy" that targets 25% of the funds into areas with the greatest skills needs

Liberal Democrats have been calling on Medway Council to commit resources to improve all of Medway's town centres to support jobs, local public services and reinforce the sense of local community offered by our high streets. There are numerous challenges to our established retailers from the internet. Speaking to local residents, increases in parking charges and hours of operation are also acting as deterrents to visiting local town centres, pushing shoppers to other centres. We need to do more to improve the look and feel of the street, and provide more short-term parking, especially for people buying heavy or bulky goods.

Alan Bullion, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Rainham and Gillingham said - "Its critical that the Conservatives give support and initiatives to businesses in the High Street. All of Medway's town centres are a critical source of local services, shopping and employment. The Conservatives should be giving them as much support as possible, by working with businesses to keep them trading and encouraging companies to invest in the High Street.

Small businesses that contribute so much to their local communities, and it's time to consider the challenges being faced by business owners and entrepreneurs who are struggling to keep their businesses afloat.

This Conservative government has completely failed small businesses, saddling them with years of Brexit uncertainty and ignoring urgent calls to reform business rates. Boris Johnson now wants to plough ahead with crashing the UK out of the EU, which would mean even more damage to businesses up and down the country. The Liberal Democrats will rescue our high streets by stopping Brexit, scrapping outdated business rates and introducing more support for entrepreneurs.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Analysis by the Liberal Democrats on the number of businesses closing, including in each region and local authority, is available here. The figures on businesses closing are taken from the ONS Business Demography 2018 (published 19 November 2019).

Two-fifths of SMEs surveyed by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) believe a No Deal Brexit would damage their firm (Federation of Small Businesses).

The Conservative government is introducing IR35, which will change the way self employed contractors are dealt with in the tax system from April 2020. The Association of Independent Professionals and Self Employed has called the move "disastrous".

ALAN BULLION

Alan Bullion works in London for a publishing company and commutes from High Brooms station, where he successfully campaigned for a second ticket machine, as well as more capacity and fairer fares for rail and bus travellers. Alan is a former school Governor and pupil of Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, and is chair of its Alumni society.

Alan has long been active on a number of issues, such as defending recreation and sports facilities against development. Delivering additional school places and keeping social care to support older people.

Alan has focused on issues such as safer streets and 20mph zones, especially around schools and building up care at local hospitals. Alan also is a great believer in life-long learning, having done degrees with the Open University and Southampton as a mature student.