Booksellers Association’s chief executive tells meeting at parliament that ‘if something isn’t done, booksellers will be put out of business’Booksellers are warning that 275 towns across England and Wales could be left without a bookshop as a consequence of the rise in business rates earlier this year. “If even half of those bookshops were to close as a direct result of rates’ increases, then 275 towns could be deprived of a bookshop,” said Godfray. He pointed to Waterstones in Bedford, which he said pays £850 per square metre in business rates, while “Amazon just down the road from this Waterstones pays at its Marston Gate distribution centre £52.50 – that’s 16 times less than Waterstones”. Bookseller Tamara MacFarlane, of Tales on Moon Lane in Herne Hill, London, said that their business rates had increased by more than 300% since the start of the year. In particular, the gross distortion business rates imposed on bricks-and-mortar retailers means they are competing with one hand tied behind their backs against multinational online sellers such as Amazon.”Put into action in April, the latest hike in business rates was more pronounced because of a controversial two-year delay on the nationwide evaluation of property that was due to take place in 2015.

Source: The Guardian July 27, 2017 09:00 UTC