Windermere businesses and MP join forces on business rates campaign

Local MP Tim Farron has welcomed the publication of a new survey by Windermere & Bowness Chamber of Trade which shows overwhelming support for extending the business rates holiday.

Most of the local businesses in the hospitality, tourism and retail sectors that responded to the survey favoured a 12-month extension to help the economy grow after lockdown.

The vast majority of responses also said that their business would suffer financial losses if the business rates holiday was not extended.

Commenting on the report, Tim said: "I'm massively grateful to the Windermere & Bowness Chamber of Trade for conducting this research and sharing the results with me.

"When lockdown ends and restrictions start to ease, we will need our local businesses to be fighting fit to help lead our economic recovery and so we really need that extra support, so they are able to survive and thrive.

"This report will give me further ammunition to make my case with ministers in the coming weeks that they should extend the business rates holiday by another 12 months to save jobs, businesses and the economy."

Adrian Faulkner, Secretary of the Windermere & Bowness Chamber of Trade said: "We welcome any support Tim can give to the business community, either at 'grass routes' level or at governmental level to make sure the 'business rates holiday' is extended well beyond April 2021 to enable them to continue trading and not have empty retail shop fronts on the high street.

"The Government should be made aware that businesses do not have an instant influx of cash just because the lockdown has ended!"