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Eastbourne pub landlord fears for pubs' future
A LANDLORD fears for the future of pubs in the town after he was hit with a massive hike in business rates.
Steve Leach runs the Windsor Tavern in Langney Road and says it no wonder pubs are closing when publicans are facing rises in their bills for business rates.
Mr Leach said his business rates had risen from 11,250 to more than 20,000 - and criticised the Valuation Office which sets business rates across the country and asks local authorities to collect it on its behalf.
Here in Eastbourne, the borough council collects business rates for the Valuation Office.
Mr Leach said the Valuation Office had based the rates on the value of the property in 2008 and not 2009 when the recession began to bite, property prices dropped and people drifted away from pubs because of the credit crunch.
"They have based the figures on 2008 when everyone was out drinking in pubs," he said. "The last year has not been good for pubs in the town because people haven't been going out drinking.
"The Black Horse has gone, The Lodge has gone and before the year is out, there will be more pubs boarded up because of the rising costs."
An Eastbourne Borough Council spokesperson said business rates collected by local authorities were paid by those who occupy non-domestic property as a contribution to local services.
The spokesperson added, "Eastbourne Borough Council is responsible for the billing and collection of non-domestic rates.
"The council has no influence on setting the valuation of the property.
"Each non-domestic property has a rateable value which is set by the Valuation Office Agency, which draws up and maintains a full list of rateable values.
"The rateable value of the property broadly represents the yearly rent the property could have been let for on the open market on a particular date.
"For the revaluation that came into effect on April 1 2010, this date was set as April 1 2008."
The spokesperson said the revaluation may alter if circumstances change and the ratepayer can also appeal against the value shown in the list if they believe it is wrong.
A VOA spokesperson said, "In simple terms current rateable values represent open market rental values as at April 1 2008.
"The current rating lists became effective from April 1 2010 as part of the five-yearly revaluation cycle which is designed to maintain fairness for all ratepayers by ensuring rateable values are based on up to date property values and reflect changes in the property market.
"The rateable value is not the amount of rates payable, in addition to a reduced rate in the pound multiplier there is a 2bn relief scheme in place to protect ratepayers from significant increases in their rate bills.
"If anyone has reason to believe that the rateable value of their property does not reflect the rental value as at April 1 2008 we would encourage them to get in touch with us."
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
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