Port tenants are strengthening their campaign against the government’s new way of collecting non-domestic business rates on port estates, which is threatening the survival of companies operating at ports in England and Wales.
A petition calling for the cancellation of backdated bills has attracted more than 1,280 signatories on the prime minister’s website, including timber shipping line Scotline Ltd, which says the bills amount to millions of pounds.
Port operators have previously paid the rates bill but now the government is to collect money from individual businesses renting terminal space.
Scotline sales and marketing director Cindy Crancher said this puts many port businesses in an untenable position.
Tilbury forest products handling firm Fortress Warehousing and Distribution and Liverpool-based Thomas Nichols Brown are among ports businesses to fail in recent months because of the tax,
“It will put businesses out of competition as it puts you at a disadvantage,” said Ms Crancher.
“Companies haven’t calculated for it in business coming through the port.”
Transport select committee chair Louise Ellman MP is raising the issue in the House of Commons on January 19.
