BUSINESS owners in Wellington are being urged to take action if they have suffered a downturn in trade because of town centre roadworks.

Cllr Gary James, Mayor of Wellington, has contacted Taunton Deane Borough Council to see if anything can be done to help business owners in the town who were affected by the roadwork disruption.

He told members of the Wellington Town Centre Working Group that some shopkeepers had suffered a loss in trade as a result and that they should seek a reduction in business rates.

Cllr James was told that each business affected needed to contact the Valuation Office Agency and to appeal their rateable values to try and get a temporary reduction.

He said that there was nothing in business rates legislation for a billing authority to do this on behalf of businesses – the taxpayer must lodge the appeal.

A billing authority could look at spreading arrears, putting arrears into the 2018-19 charge and spreading over 12 months, putting a temporary hold on action if there were arrears, checking each account to make sure all reliefs that can be given are in payment and giving officer support.