Your article on ongoing troubles with seafront business rent reviews “Brighton’s seafront traders say they will take legal action against council” (The Argus, August 4) highlights the gap between Tory rhetoric on helping traders and its actions.
At their own expense the businesses have had two independent surveys which find much lower rent valuations than the council’s consultant.
Councillor Geoffrey Theobald refused to ask the council’s new in-house surveyor to review the valuations. Instead, he said every seafront business should go to binding arbitration with all the legal costs that entails.
Surely if Coun Theobald wanted to save council resources and support the local businesses owners he would order that review to see if the consultant’s valuations were realistic or not.
The traders have also been shocked to receive notices demanding immediate payment of back rent at the new higher rates. The promised “transitional measures” from Coun Mears to help the businesses pay seem to be nowhere in sight.
Why are the Tories refusing to budge for the seafront traders? Don’t they understand the crucial part the businesses play in making our seafront a successful tourist attraction?
Councillor Jason Kitcat
Green Party, Regency ward
Brighton and Hove City Council
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