FARNHAM Town Council has promised to do all it can to support the future of independent businesses in Farnham, after proprietors expressed concern as business rates increase.

A new survey from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), found that more than a third (36 per cent) of small firms expected to see their business rates increase from April 1.

Of those facing a rates rise, a substantial proportion (44 per cent) of FSB members said their business rates will eventually rise by more than £1,000 per annum.

And most alarmingly one in five (21 per cent) could see their annual bill increase by more than 40 per cent.

As Farnham councillors met for full council earlier this month, they were approached by two Downing Street business owners who were seeking reassurance from members.

Audrey Kelly (Farnham Wholefoods), who was joined by Sandra Proni of Downing Street Deli, posed a question to the council chamber regarding the increase in business rates and how it is affecting small businesses within the area.

She said: “It is having an impact on our businesses, we understood that the Government want to be helping small businesses by reducing the threshold of the rates to £15,000 for small businesses, which would have allowed us to fall into that bracket.

“Now we have learnt that the rates have actually increased and we’ve gone above that bracket, so we don’t benefit from that. This is affecting not just us but a lot of people that we have spoken with in Downing Street.

“And it has an impact on the community because the community like their independent shops. People who come in and shop with us, want us to stay there, they want us to remain there and they do try and support us as much as they can.

“So basically we are looking to see if the council can support us in looking at the rates.”

In reply to Audrey’s question, the leader of the Council, Carole Cockburn, said that for as long as she has been on the council she has fought for local businesses, especially the independents:

“The last thing that any of us sitting around this table want is to see shops go. It is part of what makes Farnham special, it’s in our Neighbourhood Plan. The one thing we have always, always stressed is the need to maintain that.

“So from the top of my head I can’t give you a solution, but I can give you a guarantee that we will do everything that we can to raise the issue and see what we can do in practical form as well.”

It was suggested that the question be put before the Strategy and Finance team at their next meeting in June, after which results will be presented in the following town council meeting.