HELENSBURGH business owners have been warned to brace themselves for an increase in non-domestic rates – and the CHORD work in the town centre could be partly responsible.
But the claim, by Councillor Richard Trail, has been criticised by the chamber of commerce, which says rates are likely to go down.
Retailers, who suffered financially due to a reported drop in footfall during the overrun £7.23 million regeneration works, have hit out at the prospect of increased rates saying businesses are still recovering from the disruption. They say some could be forced out of business.
Mr Trail, who sits on the area’s valuation board, said this week new valuations of non-domestic properties would come into effect in April, 2017.
“As far as new rates in Helensburgh are concerned, it seems likely some businesses will find their rateable value goes up by a considerable amount,” he said.
Asked whether the CHORD improvement work was the main driver of the likely increase, Mr Trail said: “It will be one of them.”
However, a spokeswoman for the Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce said: “Only if landlords have increased rates on the back of being able to get more because of CHORD will the town centre regeneration have any impact at all."
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