Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has spoken out in the Senedd demanding the Welsh Government reconsider their 35% cut to business rates relief.
Alongside a proposed 5% rise to business rates, the Welsh Government remain resolute in their desire to slash business rates relief from 75% to 40% - despite remaining at 75% in England. This poses significant consequences for our tourism and hospitality sectors where we are already witnessing the closure of our beloved pubs and restaurants across Aberconwy.
For Aberconwy, the tourism and hospitality sector is fundamental to the local economy. However, at a time when these communities are already struggling, rather than offering a leg up Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru are set on bankrupting and punishing local businesses. This refusal to reverse the cut could now mean that Welsh pubs and restaurants pay nearly £7000 more than their English equivalents – this is clearly unacceptable and only characterises the short-sightedness of the Welsh Government.
Commenting on this Janet said:
“Aberconwy is the honey pot for tourism in Wales. Only last week Betws-y-Coed was named best “staycation” in the UK.
“Tourism is vital to our Welsh economy, employing 12% of our workforce, contributing around £2.4b to our GDP and attracting over a million international travellers a year.
“The Welsh Government’s insistence that a cut to business rate relief is necessary is shocking. It shows a clear dereliction of duty to protect Welsh businesses from hardship and is yet another example of their recklessness and fiscal negligence to Welsh tourism and hospitality.
“We must reverse this cut and seek to develop a coherent strategy on countering this negative Welsh Socialist and Nationalist policy towards hospitality and tourism.”
ENDS
