Retailers call for rates relief to halt high street decay

RETAILERS have warned that one bad Budget could be the end of the high street in Scotland.

- BY RICHARD ELIAS

The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) is calling for a permanent relief to business rates for retail businesses, along with a pledge not to levy any new taxes on those firms.

The organisation has also urged Holyrood to lay out a plan that would end the income tax divergence between Scotland and the UK in the top three tax bands.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison will announce her plans for the coming year to Holyrood tomorrow.

Speaking ahead of the Budget, SRC director David Lonsdale said: “Retailers are the heartbeat of many of our communities.