Retailers in Helensburgh have hit out at the "unfathomable" refusal of the Scottish Government to help the high street survive.

Scotland's draft budget, released just before Christmas, increased taxes while heaping further pressure on local authorities.

But Helensburgh businesses criticised the lack of support from the Scottish Government.

Karen Forret is managing director of Wilkies, which has six stores in Scotland, including one on West Clyde Street.

The firm announced earlier this year that it was closing five of its 11 stores across the country.

Ms Forret, who is also the members' director of Bira - the British Independent Retailers Association - which represents 400 independents in Scotland.

She said there has not been support for businesses in the country for two years.

Ms Forret said: "Why does the Scottish Government not want to help our high streets and everything they contribute to Scotland’s economy?

"At the Autumn Statement on November 17, 2022 the Chancellor announced the introduction of a new business rates relief scheme for retail, hospitality and leisure properties.

"We waited, but this financial support was not passed onto businesses in Scotland despite money being given to the Scottish Government through Barnett consequentials.

"In Westminster’s budget at the end of November 2023 this support was extended for English retailers. The 2023/24 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief scheme will provide eligible, occupied, retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a 75% relief, up to a cash cap limit of £110,000 per business.

"Scottish businesses need the same support.

"As we all waited for the support to be replicated in the Scottish Governments budget, they have failed again to support our high streets despite being given the money from Westminster.

"The Scottish Government are spending over £122 million investing in towns and high streets needing regeneration as part of the levelling up funding, which is great.

"But there is no point if the vast majority of units are lying vacant."

She continued: "As a business we had to make the very difficult decision this year closing five out of 11 of our stores. We had already closed three stores post pandemic.

"At the time we thought seriously whether it was worth saving the six that we have kept open, but we believe our highstreets and the jobs we have taken forward were worth saving.

"It is such a punch in the face for the Scottish businesses investing in our highs streets not to have been given the support the deserve."

The other surviving Wilkies stores in Scotland are in Largs, Perth, Peebles, Castle Douglas and Ballater.

Dr Wendy Hamilton, local representative of the Federation of Small Business, agreed and slammed the Scottish Government's "unfathomable refusal to pass on funding".

Dr Hamilton, who owns Grasshopper Toys in West Princes Street, said: "Whilst high streets in England and Wales are now in receipt of some help in what are desperate times for British high streets, the Scottish Government has effectively abandoned Scottish high streets.

"Their recent parlous efforts with the Scotland Loves Local scheme further underline the Scottish Government is out of touch with what is happening across Scotland, where retail and hospitality businesses are closing every day.

"There will come a tipping point where so many of our long-established businesses have closed that our town centres are beyond rescue.

"We must hope the Scottish Government acts in time to head that day off."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government will always be open and honest with the public about the choices it has made.

“There have been calls to replicate non-domestic rates retail, hospitality and leisure relief available to businesses in England.

"While Scottish Ministers are sympathetic to these calls, doing so would have meant that the Scottish Government could not provide the NHS, schools, or emergency services with the funding they require.

“The Scottish Government will continue to do all it can to support businesses. In 2024-25, the poundage will be frozen, delivering the lowest poundage rate in the UK for the sixth year in a row.

"The Small Business Bonus Scheme offering up to 100% relief from non-domestic rates will be maintained and 100% rates relief will be available for hospitality businesses in island communities, capped at £110,000 per ratepayer.”