[Wera Hobhouse MP (third from right) with L-R: Katie O’Carroll, Laurence Budden and Camilla Holdsworth (all British Land), Vivienne King (Chair) and Ali Kamall of the Shopkeepers’ Campaign.]
It’s amazing to realise it’s almost 20 years since the grand opening of Bath’s SouthGate shopping centre.
Back in 2009, its bright and wide spaces, along with its iconic, vibrant overhead installations, were a huge transformation from the rather utilitarian, low-slung shopping centre it replaced.
Now, it is firmly established as a shopping and leisure destination in the city, home to over 50 shops, ten restaurants, 99 homes and an 860-space underground car park, as well as a boutique cinema.
Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse was asked to pay a visit to SouthGate to hear the latest updates from stakeholders at the centre following an invitation from the Shopkeepers’ Campaign, a group campaigning for business rates reform.
In particular, they drew her attention to the fact that when new business rates evaluations were applied earlier this year, rate rises for some pubs were so high that the government introduced reductions to cushion the blow for that sector.
Shopkeepers’ Campaign Chair Vivienne King told Mrs Hobhouse:
“We believe it would be fair to extend this discount to all forms of retail, leisure and hospitality. Increases in the national living wage and national insurance in recent times have put a lot of pressure on this tight-margin sector, and now the business rate hikes have pushed many to the brink.
“We would also welcome wider reform to simplify the system, make it fairer, and thereby provide certainty and promote inward investment and growth. We appreciate Wera coming to listen to our concerns today.”
Finishing her visit with a stop by iconic, much-loved and award-winning toy store My Small World, Bath Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, commented:
“Town centres and high streets are the beating heart of communities across the country and our own SouthGate is a shining example of a regenerated city centre shopping destination enjoyed by Bathonians, regional visitors and international tourists every day of the year.
“It supports the local economy, provides convenience and an exciting range of brands, and creates thousands of local jobs.
“But outdated rules like the business rates system are unfair on operators and stores, bad for our local communities and damaging for our national economy.
We Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for an overhaul of the business rates system to stimulate investment and growth and spread the taxation burden more fairly.
“I will keep putting the case in Parliament for reform to ensure thriving centres like SouthGate continue to go from strength to strength.”
Photo credits: Wera Hobhouse, MP.
