TAVISTOCK Business Improvement District (BID) is urging local businesses that saw their rates increased this year to get in contact.

In September this year the rateable value office for Central Government re-assessed the rateable value and decided to increase it.

To help mitigate the increase of the rateable value, central government then gave each local authority, including West Devon Borough Council, a pot of money on a sliding scale over five years.

The borough council then set its own eligibility criteria for businesses able to receive the relief fund. However, BID manager Lisa Piper said she was concerned that not all eligible businesses knew they were able to apply for the relief.

She said: ‘We want to make sure that businesses that have been affected by the rates are aware of this pot of money and what the criteria is, and if they have not received a letter by West Devon Borough Council then we encourage them to contact them by the deadline.’

To qualify for relief, businesses must have had an increase in their rates — due to an increase in rateable value on April 1, be in occupation of the premises; be a local business wholly or mainly in the West Devon area; not be in receipt of a mandatory relief, and have a rateable value on April 1, 2017, which is £12,000 or greater but less than £200,000.

A spokesperson for West Devon Borough Council said: ‘Application forms have been issued to those businesses who will qualify under the local business rate relief scheme. Some businesses, who have already completed an application form have already received their relief payment.

‘Applications must be made during the 2017 financial year but the sooner businesses who have received forms apply, the quicker their bills can be reduced.’

Mrs Piper added: ‘I want to make sure that everyone is aware of the deadline and is in receipt of the correct information and that they have the opportunity to apply to have their money back.’