BUSINESSMEN in the Petersfield area are already queueing up for financial help after an announcement this week that East Hampshire District Council could be offering rate relief for those affected by the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

It is estimated that there are just over 350 businesses in the district which could be affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Corporate director (environment) Lynda Peacock told The Herald that the council had received inquiries from businesses within 24 hours of releasing the news that it hoped to introduce measures aimed at lessening the hardship faced by hundreds of businesses.

"We have had a number of local businesses and individuals in business contacting us about this because it has had national coverage in the last few days."

She said councillors felt it was important to deal with the rate relief applications quickly and accurately.

"We want to make sure that the people who most need help, get it quickly," she told The Herald.

Members of EHDC's policy and resources committee were set to make a decision on the rate relief on Wednesday night. They were due to be told that around £35,000 would need to be earmarked to fund the rate relief help.

Officers were expected to be given delegated powers to consider applications and award hardship relief to businesses with rateable values up to £12,000. Applications for rateable values over this would be looked at by the council's new cabinet.

Officers estimate that some 300 business properties with a rateable value up to £12,000 are affected by the foot-and-mouth outbreak in East Hampshire and a further 50 properties with rateable values over this would qualify. There is one potential applicant with a rateable value of more than £100,000.

The officers reckoned that the cost of giving rate relief for three months to the lower- rated group would be £10,000 and a further £23,000 for the higher rated group.

Miss Peacock was due to tell the committee that apart from farms, which were exempt from rates, businesses affected by the outbreak of the disease included food processors, manufacturers and retailers, tourism businesses including bed and breakfast, hotels, restaurants, pubs and other catering establishments, and transport and haulage firms.

"This is not a definitive list and it will be for the council to make decision in the light of the knowledge gained about the effects on the individual business concerned," she added.

The rate relief awards are expected to be made from April 1 for a period of no more than three months.