Rural businesses are suffering during the economic downturn like their urban counterparts. but the failure of a business in a small village can devastate a local community and urgent action is needed to give relief to these businesses at the heart of village life.
Linda Walton, Rural Affairs Chairman
Growing the economy - Tourism
Increasing tourism not only benefits tourism businesses but also has huge knock-on effects to other parts of the economy. Increased visitor numbers benefit the retail, food & drink and leisure sectors as well as stimulating regeneration and improvements in infrastructure. The FSB is highlighting its commitment to fighting for small tourism businesses by launching a new leaflet that outlines some of the key policy measures we are asking government to introduce to ensure our tourism businesses can continue to generate growth for local economies across the UK.
Tour de force: FSB fighting for small tourism businesses
The Government needs to invest more in the UK tourism industry so that it can fulfill its potential.
Toursism - A Passport to Growth
Read the one page summary
Vital Village Businesses
The FSB is particularly concerned about the plight of sole village shops, pubs, petrol stations and post offices during these difficult times. These businesses have already been in marked decline and we are concerned that the current difficult economic conditions could sound the death knell for many of these businesses which form the backbone of village life.
Sole village shops, pubs, petrol stations and post offices which are based in rural areas with a population of below 3000 and are within a rural settlement area, qualify for 50 per cent mandatory business rate relief with local authorities able to grant further relief at discretion.
Last year the FSB campaigned for more help for these vital village businesses and following our lobbying the Government has raised the thresholds for qualification for rural rate relief which means more sole shops, pubs, petrol stations and post offices will be able to qualify for this much needed relief
Sole Shops/Post Offices/General Stores
At the moment sole post offices and general stores, with a rateable value of up to £8,500, qualify for 50 per cent mandatory rate relief.
Sole Pubs/Petrol Stations
At the moment sole post offices and general stores, with a rateable value of up to £12,500, qualify for 50 percent mandatory rate relief.
However, we want the Government to go further and we are calling on the Chancellor to raise the thresholds further to protect our vital village businesses. For more information please see our Budget submission 2010.
Rural Affairs & Tourism Manifesto
Last year we launched our 'A New Approach to the Rural Economy' document that outlines some of our key proposals to help relaise the potential of our rural economy. Read our manifesto here.
Furnished Holiday Lettings
The Chancellor announced in the 2009 Budget that, from April 2010, the rules for Furnished Holiday Lettings will be repealed. These changes mean the self-catering sector accommodation businesses will face a greater tax liability which could severely affect their financial viability.
Read the FSB consultation response.