At a recent meeting of Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism, members were given the opportunity to discuss their concerns regarding the high business rates they were having to pay in the town.

During the discussions at the Fourcroft Hotel, it was mentioned that the rateable value for businesses was set in 2005 by the valuation officer and some members appealed against their rating; the appeals were settled by mid 2007 and a small refund received.

A successful appeal was also carried out to cover roadworks in Frog Street and High Street from September 2005 and a part refund received in 2007.

A rates notice was then received in 2007 and 2008 detailing payments at the old rateable value.

On December 23 of last year, a new notice was received from the valuation officer to alter the 2005 list entry.

It was then brought up that on January 12, the rates notice was received and three days later money was taken from members' bank accounts to cover 'under-payments' from April 1, 2007, when the roadworks had finished.

Members involved were infuriated that money (£21,000 in one case) had been debited from their accounts at such short notice and that they had not been given the opportunity of paying by an alternative method.

Certain members had disputed the backdated underpayment from September 2007 to January 2009 because they had already budgeted according to the advance rate demand.

It was explained that business rates payable were calculated by multiplying the rateable value of a property by a factor known as the multiplier. This was also known as the uniform business rate (UBR) or rate in the pound.

Pembrokeshire County Council collects the rates on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government and are paid a fee for collecting the rates.

Members were told that in April 2010 there would be another revaluation and the rateable values would be reflected on property values in 2008.

The general consensus at the meeting was that jobs were dependent on the sustainability of Tenby and something had to be done now.

After much discussion at the meeting, members agreed to seek a rates 'holiday'.

Visitors to the town must not be disappointed by what they find once they arrive; iconic photographs of Tenby are used by government agencies in the promotion of Wales and it was suggested this could possibly be used as leverage towards achieving the rates holiday.

The only way this could happen, it was argued, would be to lobby the Welsh Assembly Government; and therefore an invite would be given to all local AM/MPs to meet with the Chamber to discuss this issue.

Finally, members were told that anyone who had not received an insurance payment for losses after the Gatehouse fire could claim for a reduction in business rates.