Following a recent visit to Tenby by Welsh Assembly Government's Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy, Ieuan Wyn Jones, who met with local business owners to discuss their concerns about the town's economy, a town councillor has said that a lot of good ideas came out of the meeting and hoped that they would bear fruit.
Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas said at Tuesday night's meeting of the town council, that the recent meeting at the Fourcroft Hotel with the First Minister, who attended along with Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidate John Dixon, local county councillor Michael Williams, and regional AM Nerys Evans, had been well attended by local businesses, who were especially concerned about the high rates that they were having to pay.
During discussions, Mr. Jones pointed out that rate relief was available to businesses in the town, but admitted that, with the ceiling set at £6,500, it would be unlikely to be of help to many as the rates were so high. He suggested that even raising the ceiling to £9,000 next year would not help.
It was also suggested by local traders that a disincentive to investment was that making improvements to businesses invariably led to an increase in the rateable value.
The First Minister agreed that people should not be penalised for trying to improve their product by having bigger rate bills.
He concluded that the meeting had provided plenty of food for thought to take back to the Welsh Assembly Government.
"The Welsh Tourist Board have been using Tenby as part of their Visit Wales campaign, so if they are going to use the town for promotion, I think they should be investing in it more," said Clr. Mrs. Thomas.