Retailers call for govt rescue package

Date: 3rd March 2009

Struggling retailers have called on landlords and the government for support amid the UK's recession.

In response to an Experian report disclosing that 140,000 shops could be left vacant by the end of 2009, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has demanded a set of emergency measures.

Included in the proposals is holding business taxation, which could cost retailers more than £1.6 billion over the next 12 months.

Business director of the BRC, Jane Milne, commented: "Retailers need rents to fall in line with market realties, a wholesale switch to monthly rent arrangements, an immediate freeze on business rates and a complete restoration of empty property rate relief."

She added that all of this was needed immediately, as further losses on the high street could push the economy into a "steeper recession".

Earlier this week, the British Chambers of Commerce demanded that the government freeze minimum wage and cut business taxation to help Britain's small firms.