The Liberal Democrats would abolish business rates!

Richard Payne Local Property Expert For Taunton & Wellington Approached Some Of The Local Candidates Hoping To Win Your Vote On July 4th. He posed questions and interviewed them about Social Housing, Residential & Commercial Property, The High Street, Firepool Boulevard, and Our Local Small Businesses.

With the race for Number 10 well and truly on, sometimes it is not just about who gets the power, or the battle of blue versus red, but more about the number of MPs from the sometimes proclaimed smaller parties who get to sit in the chamber, promote ideas, and influence legislative outcome. Richard Payne sat down with some of the candidates vying for your vote to do just that, and talked about all things property.?

Gideon Amos of the Liberal Democrat Party was extremely charming and forthcoming, whilst Rebecca Pow (Conservative) following approach gave no response.?

Richard | "Can you outline any specific measures that your party has in mind to address the current shortage of affordable housing in our constituency, and how these measures ensure that vulnerable groups, such as low-income families and young professionals, have access to safe and affordable homes. How do we get everyone out of the Travelodge & Premier Inn and into housing?”

Gideon Amos Liberal Democrat | “The plan is to initially build 150,000 affordable homes, that's the target. We have begun already in the West of the County, in places like Minehead, and the North Taunton revamp project is of course already up and running. We are very committed to this as a party, and the quota directive from central government in respect of ‘selling off’ existing council house stock has to end”?

Helen Morgan MP, Housing Spokesperson for the party said “We would reinstate the policy for councils to keep 100% of their receipts (sales proceeds), but also allow councils to be able to set their own discount level, and where they have an acute need they should be able to suspend the policy altogether”?

Richard | "What actions are proposed to revitalise our high street and its dearth of empty commercial property spaces in places such as Taunton & Wellington, support our local businesses, and drive people back into towns”

Gideon Amos Liberal Democrats | “We want to abolish business rates, that is our national position. This would be done in favour of a fairer system, such as a property valuation based tax. We need to drive bricks and mortar operators and footfall back into our towns. There should be discounts and incentives for primary shop frontage, with perhaps no tax payable at all for local or small businesses, in order they be able to obtain prime trading locations and positions they have previously been locked out of, versus the corporates and major players who can easily afford to negotiate and pay for prime plots. Richard largely agreed and commented “This is actually a fantastic idea, and not that difficult to implement given that every town already has a ‘Town Plan’ which details Zone A, B, Secondary, Tertiary, and all the information you need to implement such a scheme" One idea is that the scheme could operate by looking at turnover. “It is currently easier for the likes of Wagamama to take a prime spot without consequence of the rateable value, versus Mr & Mrs Jones wanting to open their independent restaurant or retail premises” said Richard.?

Richard | "What initiatives and policies are being implemented to support young people in our constituency to afford their first homes, and how do these measures address the challenges of high property prices, limited availability, and their lack of a large deposit?”

Gideon Amos Liberal Democrats | “It starts with steadying the economy. The number of constituents I have met who sadly tell me stories of their post Liz Truss budget problems with interest rates, trying to remortgage, the pressures and stress of this, sometimes leading to the break up of family units and the loss of their family home. The Truss budget compounded what was already a large disparity in the property market. As I said earlier, we have a target to build 150,000 affordable houses, social houses, shared equity properties, affordable housing for those youngsters who I know struggle, and are sometimes early in their careers and on lower starter salaries, we want to help them to afford their first home, and get on the ladder”?

Richard suggested that one of the other biggest issues more recently, was the rent reform bill being kicked into the long grass, which Gideon agreed with and said that the Liberal Democrats would be looking to try and progress this. “The more MPs we have in the chamber, the more pressure and weight we can add to the argument when it comes to the ayes and noes”

Richard | “Now that work has eventually commenced at ‘Firepool Boulevard’ after decades of embarrassment and false starts. How do you see things currently??

Gideon Amos Liberal Democrat | “For at least 10 years nothing had happened on this, and I would like to pay tribute to our local councillors who have worked really hard to get things moving quickly. When we (Liberal Democrats) took over in 2019 not much had been done. More recently work has begun at pace, the land has been raised, infrastructure work is in process, and the work for the actual boulevard has now begun”?

Gideon sees himself as an ambassador and champion for inward investment in the town, and agrees with Richard that Taunton needs many advocates who are willing to work together, agents, town centre managers, planners, those who can beat the same drum, collaborate and promote growth in the town we all love. “As the county town, and being central to both Bristol & Exeter almost equidistant, we deserve to have some sort of Mini City vibe going on” said Richard. “That aside, if we can champion the town centre as a whole by connecting it up with Firepool as its jewel, it can only benefit and spill over to the now even more interconnected locations like Wellington next door”

Gideon said “The town council want to use committed individuals to drive things forward in all matters of this nature, not just at Firepool”?

Richard | "What steps are proposed to simplify and expedite the planning permission process in our area to encourage development and address housing shortages effectively?"

Gideon Amos Liberal Democrat | “The first thing we need to get to grips with in our location is the phosphates issue, and this needs cracking with National England. I don’t blame the water companies entirely, but then the onus should not all be heaped upon the developers and builders either. It has been a bit of a Cinderella service in the past, and that has to change. Social care is a big one that needs resolving first, which would then free up so much liquidity and money for projects just like this. The planning decision and the building process needs to get quicker, and Council’s should also be able to buy land themselves, at real market values”

The word change has been used alot by all of the parties during this campaign, but I firmly believe that if we are to make a difference, then we need to treat this as a ‘turning point’ election. If we fill the Westminster chamber with more cross party representation, whereby no one colour be it Blue, Red, Yellow, or Green has an automatic overload, which usually results in legislation being easy for them to whip during any parliamentary vote, then we are more likely to obtain that locally relevant representation we all desire.?

Richard Payne can be contacted on (m) 07415 070 288 (t) 01984 618 889 (e) [email protected]