Helen champions rate reform after visit to Oswestry garage

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan has championed the case for High Street rate reform in the House of Commons, after a visit to an Oswestry garage being hit by a mechanic shortage and high business rates.

Helen visited KC Garages in Oswestry on Friday, where she met with mechanic Niall Jones. They discussed the difficulties in running a small or medium sized business, particularly in light of ‘astronomical’ energy bills and the difficulties in recruiting skilled workers in a rural county like North Shropshire.

The MP has previously made the case for business rate reform to Ministers, having held discussions with the Oswestry BID earlier in the year about the state of the High Street and the work being done to ensure the town’s economic vibrancy.

She has now again raised the issue in the Commons chamber.

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, asked the Minister, “I visited KC Garages in Oswestry on Friday, which is a medium sized business of very long standing in North Shropshire.

“One of the many challenges they are facing along with astronomical energy bills and a shortage of skilled labour is the business rates they need to pay because they must have a presence on the High Street for people to take their cars to.

“Will the Minister consider a fundamental reform of business rates so that those businesses that need a High Street presence can continue to exist in the future? Because those businesses are under huge pressure at the moment.”