Retailers call for business rates reform

Campaigners and retailers have called on the government to urgently review the business rates system, after it emerged that businesses were accumulatively overcharged around £2.1bn over the past five years. Industry experts take issue with the fact that retailers in less affluent areas have seen their rates become artificially high due to a drop in property values, while retailers in thriving areas have seen relatively lower rates due to rising property values not effecting their bill. The Independent, Page: 51 Independent I, Page: 40