'If Council was a business it would be bankrupt' - Derry Trader

A Derry city centre trader has told Derry Now that if Derry City and Strabane District Council was a business “it would be bankrupt”.

Declan Moore, the owner of Claude’s Café on Shipquay Street, was reacting to the announcement Council had increased business rates in its area by 10.67%.

The increases in business rates levied by the 11 councils across the North was also described as “hugely disappointing” by Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, Neil Johnston.

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Mr Johnston said he was left asking himself, ‘‘What did we do to deserve this?’ 

He added: “The 10.67% increase from Derry City and Strabane District  Council amounts to a significant increase in costs for our members. 

“Costs pressure can lead to price increases, and we know that is the last thing that consumers want to see. This move by the Councils will not help businesses or consumers.”

“Retail Consortium members have invested millions in and employ hundreds of workers in Derry and Strabane. It is hugely disappointing that business rates have not been frozen for the coming year in the way that they have been in England, Scotland and Wales.

Regional rate increased by 6%

Derry and Strabane ratepayers facing an almost 14% rates hike

“Recent times have been very difficult for retailers – with the covid pandemic, energy price shocks and general inflationary pressures.

“The continuation of a freeze on business rates in England, Scotland and Wales is a welcome recognition of the fact that trading conditions are still difficult.

“As I said it is hugely disappointing that the Councils have not been able to freeze their part of business rates next year.”

An angry Declan Moore said business owners in the city were already struggling with a multitude of hikes. 

He added: “As a long-time campaigner, I know there are different pots of money within the Department of Infrastructure for projects such as the one-way traffic system onto the Diamond. 

“I just find it bizarre Council, seemingly fires money at such projects, without any kind of consultation or the taking on board any of the real concerns of traders, and then, literally in the next breath, when we are really struggling with all of the other hikes, it imposes a rates rise in excess of 10%.

“If the Council was a business, it would be bankrupt because the answer is not to keep on asking the traders to pay more and more. 

“I am not undermining what Council is doing but this rates rise comes across as the laziest option. This happens every year. Council keeps putting the rates up, it just tries to figure out by how much,” said Declan Moore.

Mr Moore said Council services were being impacted. He added: “Everything is being cut back, pared back, including street lighting and street cleaning. 

“I think we can ill afford that either but I would just love to know how much money was spent by Council in erecting or removing all infrastructure in the Diamond.

“How much did that cost? What was the cost of the negative impact it had on city centre traders? If Council had that money now, would there be an increase of 10% for businesses?”