BUSINESSES in Ludlow faced with a stinging increase in the rates they pay have been given a chink of hope.

The valuation officer has agreed to visit Ludlow to see the issues facing shops in the town.

Nearly 40 per cent of Ludlow businesses face a rise in their business rates under the 2017 revaluation.

One of the reasons for the problem was a delay in the setting of new business rates.

The rates that are a major cost for small and medium-sized businesses are being increased at a time when traders in Ludlow are struggling to make ends meet after years of economic downturn.

This has been made worse by competition from larger chains and a movement towards shopping online.

Now there is some hope following the intervention of Ludlow MP Philip Dunne.

The Chief Valuation Officer and local officer will come to Ludlow next month.

Ludlow Chamber of Commerce and traders in the town have been worried about the increase in business rates that, it is feared, could result in closures and job losses.

The chamber has welcomed the decision and hopes that officials will be made aware of the special problems facing some traders in the town.

“I am pleased Philip Dunne has got the valuation officer to visit Ludlow, so we can give hard evidence of the pressures on many local traditional independent businesses that make Ludlow so special,” said Tish Dockerty, secretary of Ludlow Chamber of Commerce.

“Ludlow Chamber are helping compile evidence which we hope will help persuade the valuation office agency to change its mind and lessen the impact of these increases.”

After meeting Ludlow Chamber of Commerce and concerned businesses in February, Philip Dunne has been working to reduce the impact of business rates revaluation on town centre businesses across the constituency, with a particular focus where proposed rises are steepest, as in Ludlow.

Ahead of the Budget, the MP met Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond to make the case for businesses in Ludlow.

He has also been pressing the Valuation Office Agency since the beginning of this year, urging them to look again at the way in which they have calculated rateable values for many businesses in south Shropshire.

“They have now agreed to my request to visit Ludlow, to receive local evidence from businesses at the sharp end and understand the potential consequences on some long established independent businesses of these increased valuations, often based on notional rents,” said Philip Dunne.

“This meeting will be held as soon as possible next month after the General Election. I am working closely with the Ludlow Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to coordinate evidence.

“I am hopeful that with proper knowledge of the business environment and rental market in Ludlow, the Valuation Office Agency will look again at the way these latest rateable values have been calculated.”

The Department for Communities and Local Government has confirmed the General Election will not delay the distribution of the £300m business rate relief fund for local councils.