It’s time to “RATE” success of our Towns

Here in Barnsley our local authority can be congratulated on the level of industrial and retail premises available for use.

Success in business is encouraged.

Inevitably, as with other areas, take up is not 100% of available sites.

The big success highlighted here is bringing ASOS to Barnsley because of its ability to offer employment in a deprived area.

I can’t help wondering though what huge benefits they were offered that makes their location attractive for profits.

I also ponder the Towns ease at selling land for development of Supermarkets and the like.

Our retail and small Industry are being crippled by business rates that at times are hard to ponder in times of austerity.

ASOS and our large Supermarkets who have large premises will clearly have much lower business rates per square metre than a retail store in the Town.

Perhaps this is why our retail Industry is disappearing with more shops empty and boarded up.

When your rates are twice that of your rental costs it must be an Issue for Landlords too when trying to attract tenants.

Debenhams are coming in the future as part of our retail development.

To assume they are not being offered attractive terms would be naive.

I have no problem with this for accrued benefits that may come from it.

I do wonder though why the same flexible approach is not available to other premises in the Town to get them occupied.

The benefits are obvious and fill all the same arguments for some, albeit on a smaller scale.

They are nonetheless an important and vital part of our local economy.

Barnsley is good at Innovating support and this area of concern merits concern.

What we need is the even handed approach that is part of the Towns character – practiced by those who take the decisions.