Bangor’s Member of the Senedd Siân Gwenllian has welcomed an announcement that a Plaid Cymru government would cut taxes for small, independent Welsh businesses. She has claimed the policy could be “transformational” for Bangor High Street.
Plaid Cymru’s economy spokesperson Luke Fletcher announced this weekend that a Plaid Cymru government would cut taxes to support small Welsh businesses.
In his speech at Plaid Cymru’s Spring Conference at Venue Cymru, Llandudno on Saturday Luke Fletcher MS highlighted the struggles that independent businesses face in Wales, saying that there are “countless examples the length and breadth of Wales where the full potential of our domestic businesses is going unfulfilled”, with “too many independent shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants having to close” which has led to the decline of town centres.
The Plaid Cymru Economy spokesperson said that Wales needs to change how it taxes our town centre businesses to realise the potential of town centres and independent businesses.
He outlined Plaid Cymru’s plans to use the business rate multiplier to “reduce rates for independent businesses in retail or hospitality”.
According to Mr Fletcher, the policy would be cost-neutral, as a Plaid Cymru-led Government in 2026 would “look at how we charge rates so that those who can afford to pay more, contribute more”.
In his speech to the Plaid Cymru Spring Conference, Plaid Cymru Economy Spokesperson, Luke Fletcher MS said:
“Our high streets provide a lens on the challenges facing Welsh businesses – challenges that Labour in Wales has failed to address or made actively worse over a quarter of a century in power.
“It’s a story we’re all too familiar with, isn’t it? On high streets across Wales there are empty buildings and shuttered shop fronts where thriving local businesses should be. Pubs, cafés and restaurants, all struggling with a cost-of-doing business crisis – a crisis made worse by sky-high taxes on businesses and Labour’s scrapping of business rates relief.
“An independent store owner on the high street in Aberystwyth pays nearly ten times more than a major chain on the town’s outskirts, and significantly more than would an equivalent business in England. In Bridgend, a locally owned and managed coffee shop and bakery pays the same level of non-domestic rates as its multinational competitors. Instead of being able to grow and develop as a business, investing locally in the supply chain, training and jobs, it is a business simply looking to survive.
“There are countless examples the length and breadth of Wales of businesses’ full potential going unfulfilled – too many of what should be successful businesses going to the wall. And the result? Town centres in decline, instead of on the up.
“I am proud that more and more businesses are looking to Plaid Cymru for the solution. And I am even more proud that we are able to offer one.
“If we want our town centres to thrive, then we need to change how we tax the businesses on our high streets, to better support the kinds of successful Welsh-owned shops, cafés, bars and restaurants we all go to our town centres for.
“There’s a solution that is well within our grasp.
“Through varying the multiplier, we have the power to reduce rates for independent businesses in retail, leisure and hospitality. It really is that simple. And by looking at how we charge rates so that those who can afford to pay contribute more, it would also be cost-neutral.”
Plaid Cymru’s Member of the Senedd for Arfon which includes Bangor has welcomed the announcement. Siân Gwenllian said: “I was very glad to see Plaid Cymru put support for small businesses at the forefront of our conference this week.
“When I speak to constituents about their local concerns, the state of the High Street often comes out tops as one for their priorities.
“Nowhere symbolises those challenges more than Bangor High Street, and I believe a tax cut for small, independent businesses would be transformational for our town centres.
“I was delighted to hear this week of a new, independent bakery opening on Bangor High Street, and we must do everything within our ability to incentivise small businesses to open.
“I’m proud to represent a party that will make local businesses a priority.”
