Rates 'cripple' warehouses
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LOCAL AUTHORITY rates are crippling this country's public warehouse operators says the National Association of Warehouse Keepers.
Speaking at the association's annual luncheon in London last week chairman Ralph Richards said that rates account for 26 per cent of total outgoings for the average Nawk member — about £5,000 per employee. "Something must be done — and soon." He also added that customers' de-stocking has continued to have a detrimental effect on members' business.
Guest speaker SDP leader Dr David Owen agreed that local authority rates are "a pretty serious issue" and one that is likely to get worse following last week's Government announcement that over-spending local authorities would have their Government rates grant cut: Dr Owen reasoned that industry's rates will rise to compensate.
He acknowledged that the present situation is ridiculous: "The only people doing well are the tilers who are busy de-roofing warehouses to avoid rates."
Dr Owen supports the abolition of the non-domestic rates, to be replaced by a form of local income tax. He recommended that Nawk's representations to the Government will have best chance of success if kept simple.