Sir,

Or to whoever might be intelligent and reasonable enough to listen, through these words. The enclosed letter, originally sent to Pembrokeshire County Council, explains why I'm writing to you.

From the start let me stress that I have no intention of being sarcastic or disparaging. I'm old enough to know that such an approach is never productive. However, I am looking for understanding in the hope that someone might have the bottle, and the will, to help.

The facts about the proposed commercial rates in Narberth. The sums are based on rentable values as at April 2008. With a history of buying and selling property, commercial and residential, over five decades, including, specifically, 2002 and 2004, I find it extremely difficult to reconcile a three-fold increase between 2003 and 2008.

Admittedly there are special circumstances on Narberth High Street which do distort the picture, to the cost of all the businesses thereon. Only a third of those shops are rented, and during the good years, before the credit crunch, (2008 for example) the street was perceived to be such an attraction that shortage produced over-enthusiasm and the acceptance of suicidally high rents for a short period, a move now much regretted and about to cost everyone, including established businesses, many owner-occupied, dearly.

Of course, the real irony is that the mixture of the difficult times now pertaining plus the extortionate jump in rates, and other factors outlined in the enclosed letter, will inevitably cause a drastic reduction in commercial property values and rents in Narberth. I hear you thinking, 'Ah, then the rates will drop again!' It's not so easy as that. Do you have any idea how long five years is when you have a small business, an economic depression hits you, and then you are poleaxed with a three-fold increase in one of your unavoidable costs?

To me, whatever the subject, things must be fair and creditable, and in this case I can't see that happening. Let's look further. At Pembroke Dock, for instance. In that town, Tesco's rateable value is one third of that applying on Narberth High Street. How can that be? There may be a disparity in attractiveness between the two towns, but not by that increment! One problem is that the rates are based on three areas; the first 20 feet from the pavement the most expensive, the next 20 feet less so, and the remainder the lowest figure. Clearly there's nothing the shop-owners can do about that. They can't drop-kick their properties 40 feet backwards! Tesco (etc) start with a large chunk of land, then cleverly leave the requisite area in front to get round this punitive ruling, as they throw up a massive, beautiful shed. The epitome of fairness.

I understand the position. The rules, the parameters, are set by our government. Obviously they will support the trading giants at the expense of small shopkeepers. To hell with those comparatively tiny individual businesses. They are just a nuisance, aren't they? What does it matter if the High Street dies? Hang on though. Doesn't this almost sound like bullying? Bullying? The government? Oops! Sorry about that.

However, we are in Wales. Our Welsh Assembly are controlled by Labour and Plaid Cymru, but surely that doesn't mean they have to follow London slavishly? They do have a mind of their own, yes? Can what's afoot with those rates in Narberth be right? Be fair? Be reasonable?

Finally, an analogy. Ridiculous I know, but please read on. In 1957, newly married and having taken articles in law, I went to work for one of my brothers. Salary? £7 a week. Fast forward. I'm now one of the movers and shakers in London, cobbling together those rules that are about to wreck Narberth. Call me one of Gordon's men. Suddenly I have a bright idea. Henceforth all those darned MPs and AMs at the Welsh Assembly are to have their salaries based on 1957. £7 a week. That's a bit unfair. But what's fairness got to do with it?

That's where that imaginary person, the visionary with the bottle, the drive, the human touch and the guts comes in. Does such a gentleman or lady exist?

J. H. Palmer,

Florentine House,

Pier Road,

Milford Haven.