The government’s decision to bring forward legislation to cancel backdated business rates on ports companies has brought relief to firms which were facing hefty bills.
The government is waiving £175m of backdated demands, affecting 59 companies at Grimsby and Immingham who faced bills of £19m, 100 companies at Liverpool (£12m), 33 at Goole (£4m) and 34 at Hull (£11m).
“We are relieved and grateful that the prime minister has fulfilled the promise he made in the general election,” said Kieran Hall, managing director of Denholm Handling and chairman of the Mersey dock rating group.
Denholm, which had been facing a £700,000 backdated rates bill, was one about 10 other companies in the Mersey dock rating group which handled timber that had been been facing backdated rates demands.
Local government minister Bob Neill, who visited Goole after the cancellation announcement, said the move was a victory for common sense.
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