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 welcome Angus Council’s common sense approach to the Arbroath Harbour Visitor Centre’s tenants. The Angus Alliance recently revised its arrangements with tenants at the centre, reducing rents and listening to their concerns.

When visiting the centre, I had the privilege of meeting Patricia Renson, owner of Harbour Interiors and discussing her experience of running a business at the Visitor Centre.

As a small business owner myself, it is good to hear that the Angus Alliance is responding to the needs of local shop owners. Reducing rents is an innovative and enlightened response and will really help them get through the recession. The Arbroath Visitor Centre needs thriving businesses to support its activity promoting the town and this is a big step forward.

The Labour Government has been hostile to small firms, stifling them with red tape and tax increases aimed specifically at small businesses. It is great to see Angus Council taking a more positive and engaging approach.

Abroath, Angus Council, Recession, Red Tape, Small Business, Tax