NEW TIMES – NEW RATES
With recession ravaging Mitchelstown and local businesses feeling the pinch of the downturn, rates should be contracted to reflect the new situation.
It is the general consensus amongst local business owners that rates in the locality are significantly higher than those in nearby towns like Fermoy and Mallow. The issue had been brought up at last Thursday’s MBA Open Forum Meeting with many MBA members complaining about the situation and their inability, as individuals, to bring about change to the situation.
The frustration is understandable given that several members have contacted the rating officers to ask for a reassessment of their premises, to be told that if reassessed, the rates would most likely go up, not down.
“The rates are no reflection on the business we are doing. They don’t take into account the ability or inability to pay. Individually we are not in a position to challenge the rates. Collectively we can and we will write to Cork County Council to ask why we are paying higher rates than the surrounding towns,” said MBA chairman Eamonn O’Brien.
“The business opportunities have contracted. We have lost over 1,200 jobs recently, the bypass has been built and the recession has hit hard. The rates should be contracted as well,” concluded Mr O’Brien.
Published:
Thursday 22nd October 7:07pm
