Following their visit to ‘The Common Room’ on Thursday, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP has backed Bath MP Don Foster’s call for the Council to be a responsible landlord to small businesses.

Don said,

It is quite clear that a rent rise of over 60% is just not acceptable at this time. While businesses must pay a fair rent, many will have to close if they are hit with such a substantial rise.

Small businesses are an important part of the fabric of Bath, and the Council must realise that it cannot simply impose massive rent hikes on businesses that are struggling at the current time. The Council is at serious risk of driving people out of business.

Vince Cable said,

The owners of this bar have told me that they run another premises owned by a private landlord, where the rent has been reduced this year. It is clear that private landlords are realising the value of keeping hold of their customers and I would expect councils to be thinking the same way.