I visited Chris Banks owner of Highland Scene and Chair of the Montrose Business Association, as part of his fact finding tour of the small businesses across Montrose and the rest of Angus.

I heard from Chris about the effect the recession has had on which products are selling well, the impact of internet shopping and about the premium paid in business rates for shops to be on the High Street. I run my own small businesses and it is clear that Chris and Highland Scene have responded quickly to the recession by adapting the products he sells. When there are empty shop fronts across Scotland, it is great to see small, local, shops weathering the storm so well.

It was fascinating to hear how business rates can be as much as double from one end of the High Street to the other. Making a business succeed in the centre of the High Street can be extremely challenging for small, locally owned shops during a recession. Montrose and towns across Angus are blessed with varied high street shopping that is not dominated by national chains. We need to keep a careful watch to ensure that continues to be the case.

Business Rates, Montrose, Small Business

I am backing the Scottish Lib Dem campaign to get the SNP Government to support businesses and particularly hotels, facing huge increases in their businesses rates. Speaking to a debate on this issue at the Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference, I highlighted the issues facing tourism during a year of celebrations across the whole of Angus.

Jeremy Purvis MSP, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary on Economic affairs, introduced a motion to press the Scottish Government to support hotels facing rises of up to 120% in the 2010 Business Rates revaluation. He called for the SNP to provide transitional relief, staggering increases over a number of years, in the same way as the previous Lib Dem / Labour Government had done whilst in power, and is standard practice across the rest of the UK.

In Angus, the recession is already hitting Scottish Hotels and Tourism. In February, a stately home, the Castleton House, near Glamis, closed its doors as a hotel.

This year, there are bicentenary celebrations for the Royal Montrose Golf Course and the Bell Rock Lighthouse as well as the 150th anniversary of J M Barrie’s birth in Kirriemuir. All of these celebrations have developed great relationships with local hotels and B&B’s. But already a lack of hotel beds in Angus limits how big their events can be and how much extra business they can bring to the local area.

I spoke to Fraser Ogston, the owner of two hotels in St Andrews, who will open a third in Arbroath in April. He had little idea of what his business rates will be, particularly with the rates revaluation. How can hotel owners plan their business without knowing what their taxes will be?

The issues with business rates go further than the hotel industry and transitional relief, however. In particular, business rates are discouraging investment to tackle climate change, as any savings made on energy bills are swallowed up in increased rates. I talked to a shipyard owner, Harry Simpson of Mackay Boat Builders, again in Arbroath, where they rebuilt a workshop building, with one with an insulated roof, motion sensitive lights and taps, and a better working environment for staff. With little warning their rates were doubled, not least because they were taken over the threshold for small business relief.

How can it make sense that a business that has added no new capacity, is no longer regarded as small, simply because they have replaced a building with a greener, safer one?

Arbroath, Business, Business Rates, Forfar, Glamis, Hotels, Kirriemuir, Montrose, SNP, Tourism

Montrose Cllr David May and I visited local farmer Alex Sanger, near Montrose, to discuss the issues he is facings, as part of a series of farm visits across the whole of Angus. We heard of issues with drops in cereal prices that meant that it was not worth his while to grow wheat, barley and other cereal crops. Alex also told us of the need for flexibility and common sense from regulatory bodies, such as the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, SEPA.

As we’re backing the “Buy Local In Angus” campaign, I was delighted to hear from Alex that he supplied local retailers. Having visited both Watt’s Butchers and Nature’s Garden in Montrose, I was very pleased to find out that some of their produce comes from just up the road. For shoppers trying to do their bit for climate change, you cannot get any better than that.

It was very worthwhile, meeting Alex and his colleagues to discuss the issues that they face and a great opportunity for David and I to learn more about the farming industry that is at the heart of Angus’s rural economy.

Agriculture, Farming, Flexibility, Montrose, Regulation, SEPA

I accompanied by Regional Lib Dem MSP Alison McInnes and Montrose councillor David May visited the YM and had lunch at the community cafe. They heard from Val Cooper of the YM and committee member Anna Roberston, of the funding issues faced by the YM and the actions they have taken to resolve them.

Val and the YM supporters are doing a superb job in meeting the needs of the people in Montrose. The cafe was completely full when we visited, which just goes to show how successful it is. The customers that I spoke to were all really enthusiastic about the YM and the cafe’s role as a community meeting place.

I was also met members of the over 50’s club, and listen to their local concerns. With activities for all ages, the YM is one of those rare services that allows the whole community to come together. It is always a pleasure to see local people coming together to support each other.

David and Alison commented that the lunch was not only excellent value and of high quality, but quite obviously serves the needs of the community, given how well the community cafe is supported.

Community, Elderly, Montrose, Young People

Nick Clegg, leader of the Lib Dems, yesterday launched a pledge to invest £400m, identified from savings elsewhere, in renovating shipyards and harbours, specifically for building, maintaining and supplying off shore wind turbines. It is expected that this will create as many as 57,000 new green jobs.

I have campaigned for the Scottish SNP Government to make a similar commitment to invest in Montrose Harbour. This commitment is just what Montrose needs to secure its future and I would call on other parties to match the Lib Dem commitment.

You can read more details about the pledge by clicking here to go to the Liberal Democrat website.

Energy, Environment, Harbour, Montrose

I recently visited the Royal Montrose Golf Club and met with vice-captain, Brian Ritchie to discuss plans for the club’s bicentenary celebrations.

Brian discussed the club’s prestigious history as the 9th oldest golf club, including its royal patronage in 1845, along the club’s central role in defining the modern game and popularising the sport in America.

It is clear that the club have worked very hard, and planned a first class programme, which is being backed by local businesses and the council. I am sure the year will prove to be a huge success not only for the club but also for the town. The celebrations will, I hope attract more tourists to Montrose and Angus as well as the excellent links course and be a boost for all of Montrose’s excellent golf clubs.

I was also given a tour of the clubhouse and the changes that have been made to make the club more friendly towards visitors. By coincidence, the club’s impressive new signage was being put up during my visit.

I hope that residents of Montrose, Angus and beyond will support the club’s celebrations, as the club has made great efforts to welcome visitors. Along with the Mercantile and Caledonian, Montrose’s golf clubs provide excellent local facilities for the town.

Celebration, Golf, Montrose, Sport