Council business rates scheme hits the TV news

Chris Lesbirel, owner of Shoemaster

Rochdale Council's innovative town centre business rates scheme has hit the TV news.

Tim Scott, reporting for ITV News, visited Rochdale to report on Rochdale bucking the High Street trend as a result of the council rates scheme.

Mr Scott interviews Chris Lesbirel, owner of Shoemaster who has recently signed a long-term lease at 66 Yorkshire Street, due he said to the 80 per cent business rates reduction in the first year, along with a rent incentive, which gives the business time to get established.

Shoppers interviewed on Yorkshire Street said they could see a difference with new shops opening and more people in town.

Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Borough Council, was asked by Mr Scott how the Council could afford to fund the scheme in these times of austerity, he explained the Council sees the scheme as an investment that will bring shoppers back to town.

The business rates scheme, which started in April this year in selected areas of Rochdale town centre, gives new businesses moving into an empty shop an 80 per cent discount on their business rates for the first year, with a further 50 per cent cut in the second year.

The scheme covers 23 units on Yorkshire Street, South Parade, The Walk and Baillie Street. It is aimed at tackling the vacancy rate.

http://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2015-08-18/rochdale-bucks-the-trend-for-high-street-shops-shutting-down/