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UKE: 600 UK Gas Stations To Close From Taxes

PETROL STATIONS FACE CLOSURE IN TAX NIGHTMARE

Monday February 15,2010
Daily Express.uk
By Louise Barnett Have your say(8)

HUNDREDS of petrol stations will be forced to close, put out of business by Government tax changes, it was claimed yesterday.

Around 600 independent filling stations, especially in rural areas, could shut for good by the end of next year because of an average 56 per cent surge in their rateable value taking effect from April.

RMI Petrol, which represents two thirds of the UK’s 9,000 petrol stations, warned that motorists would suffer even longer trips to find fuel.

Chairman Brian Madderson said: “We are looking at 600 sites closing, including Wales, Scotland and England. The cost of driving to fill up will increase and for tourism in rural areas it will be a significant disruption.

“Drivers are going to have to plan their routes and I think it will increase the risk of running out as well as increase the mileage to find fuel because people are going to have to make detours.”

The number of UK filling stations has already plunged from 20,000 two decades ago to just 9,000 today. Hundreds have diversified into selling bread, milk and other basic groceries and snacks to help them stay afloat.

But the Government’s Valuation Office Agency has ramped up the rateable value of garage convenience stores which will send costs through the roof.

Philip Dunne, Conservative MP for Ludlow, who is campaigning against the change, said some forecourts faced a 250 per cent surge in their rateable value.

“Government has adopted a new methodology without adequate justification which is bringing mammoth and unexpected increases in rateable value. This is particularly threatening independent retailers serving rural communities,” he explained.

“Clobbering businesses as they are struggling to recover from recession with tax hikes is not the right way to get Britain working.”

His warning comes as half of Britain’s top 30 firms admit they have considered quitting the UK because of high tax rates.

Consumer goods giant Unilever, whose brands include Marmite, Flora and PG Tips, said last week that it might move abroad if taxes go up.

RMI Petrol said the new tax rules meant many filling stations would be better off closing their pumps and turning into convenience stores to reduce their business rates.

AA spokesman Luke Bosdet pointed out that petrol stations were often the only local amenity in rural areas where pubs, shops and post offices had already closed down, adding: “If the reward for beating all the odds and staying open to serve people in the country is to be taxed out of business, that will be a sad day.”

The Countryside Alliance’s Jill Grieve said: “This will be death by a thousand cuts for the countryside and this is yet another body blow for those who are trying to earn a decent living.”

The Valuation Office Agency insisted it was working closely with petrol retailers to reach an agreement on its new rates.

“In recent years, the rental value of petrol filling stations has grown considerably and it is only fair to all ratepayers that this is reflected in the rateable value,” a spokeswoman said.

She added that there was no evidence that petrol stations would have to close because of changes in rateable value

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/158208/Petrol-stations-600-face-closure-in-tax-nightmare

DON'T YOU THINK....
15.02.10, 4:44pm

...that this is another way of controlling the price of petrol. The less Patrol stations there are, motorists will will have to pay more at the ones that are left! thus any profits made will go straight to the Government.. Never mind how inconvenient it is to the customer

• Posted by: Disgruntled • Report Comment
IT'S NOT ONLY THE COUNTRY PETROL OUTLETS
15.02.10, 4:08pm

That are closing, this city has lost nine in the last two years along with a dozen or more Post offices,
numerous Pubs, and lots of shops in our centre, the corner shop has been taken over by the large immigrant population, non English speaking some of them, though they seem to have no problem with British currency. I admit to racialism ,brought on over the last 13 years by a Government encouraged policy, bring them in house them, feed them and give them top welfare benefit rates, so one day they will vote in gratitude for the dodgy lot.
I want Britain free from Europe, I want my rights to equal that of Blair and Brown's visitors. I want to walk the street and not be confronted by an ever increasing army of Muslims peering at me through slits in their Balaclavas, not knowing what they are pointing my way under their spice enthused wrap rounds. I want my Estate to be passed in it's entirety to my family on my death
and not nibbled at by unfair taxes that the scroungers and foreigners will never have to pay. Any Party that will give us back our Country is worth voting for but we have to do it,
the Welfare scroungers have votes too, be very aware of this fact and turn out to vote, and don't be talked into spoiling your paper, Britain needs that vote, YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE









• Posted by: dunnit • Report Comment
PETROL STATIONS: 600 FACE CLOSURE IN TAX NIGHTMARE
15.02.10, 3:06pm

Well I suppose that SOMEONE has to pay for MP's Expenses and Platinum Plated Town Hall Pensions in one way or another.

• Posted by: EmperorMing • Report Comment
600 PETROL STATIONS FACE CLOSURE...
15.02.10, 3:05pm

Is there a day that doesn't goes by when this government tries to find another way to ruin this country? Massive increase in duty on alcohol and fuel and now a further proposed "death tax" on top of inheritance tax. Businesses having to close due to massive hikes in tax on rateable value. My nearest petrol station is only a mile and a half away, but if this closes due to the increase in rv,it is possible that I may have to make a forty mile round trip just for fuel. In the 1970's there were three filling stations within a one mile radius, soon there may be none.I live in an area which relies on the tourist industry for its survival, and forecourt closures will devastate the area. It's about time that MP's took a walk down their local high streets and visited their local villages just to see the devastation they have created in recent years. Ghost towns are popping up all over the country. In my own village the local shop closed some time ago, the Post Office is open part-time and hanging on by its teeth (two others in the locality closed last year), it's too expensive to socialise in the local pub. No one likes paying taxes, but even the local tax office is being closed down! With Government ministers taking every penny they can to line their own pockets, and selling every industry to any foreign investor that turns up, and giving more and more of our rights to be dictated to by Europe it seems a policy of "I'm alright Jack stuff the rest of you."

• Posted by: calliecollie • Report Comment
TIME LIMIT
15.02.10, 2:20pm

they are doing their best to f//////// every thing up before the have to find alternative employment,may be they would like to see wooden shacks and one pump dispencing petrol,or are they trying to ruin the tourist industry,could it be they want you to travel less,if so that will see the death nell of the west countries econnomy,,,I, smell a RAT at work,,

• Posted by: wigwam • Report Comment
PETROL STATIONS: 600 FACE CLOSURE IN TAX NIGHTMARE
15.02.10, 8:49am

This is bad - where I live there used to petrol stations all over the place and now there are only 3, and one was attacked last week and closed leaving just 2 and I have to be careful not to let my tank get too low in case I can't reach either! Ridiculous...

• Posted by: skyguy • Report Comment