THE chancellor is not helping Alton businesses – that is the opinion of accountancy firm, Haines Watts, in its annual review of the spring Budget.

In a statement following last Wednesday's Budget, the Haines Watts review showed that over 100 small and medium enterprises gave George Osborne's latest offering a thumbs down.

Asked if they thought the Budget would help small and medium-sized firms get their businesses fit for growth, almost a majority of the participants voted 'no'.

They felt that many of the hurdles to business growth remained and that small businesses were losing out.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.