Businesses battle to stay afloat (Southend Liberal Democrats)

Southend Liberal Democrats <info@southendlibdems.co.uk>

Businesses battle to stay afloat

February 13, 2009 12:00 PM

This is the picture painted by the initial results of an extensive business survey (see website below) carried out over a number of weeks by Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesmen Peter Welch and Cllr Graham Longley. Over 200 local businesses have already replied to the survey and 70% of them say that turnover is down!

Peter Welch From all parts of Southend - Shoebury to Leigh, Westcliff to Eastwood, and Southchurch to Prittlewell scores of local businesses face a struggle to keep going and worryingly - 20% say that the future viability of their businesses is in serious doubt.

Releasing the first results from their on-going survey, Graham & Peter say conditions in the shopping areas are tough for many local traders - and that shopworkers are sharing the pain as well. Almost 20% of businesses have already had to lay staff off or are planning to do so and 25% are having to cut staff hours.

Graham Longley The two parliamentary candidates and a group of volunteers have been calling on hundreds of businesses around the town aiming to find out for themselves how things are going. Another aim is to give Vince Cable MP, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, information for inclusion in the national statistics so that when he talks about businesses problems, Southend is part of them. Peter & Graham have been delighted to talk to many local business people listening to their comments and together with Vince Cable want to thank all the businesses who have taken part, as well as, all the volunteers who have given up their free time to gather the information . But some of the stories they told us were painful - 22% say their business is now losing money.

Clearly the national economic situation is crucial. Local issues also affect local businesses and according to a press release from the Essex Federation of Small Businesses, Southend has one of the worst records for granting Small Business Rate Relief. The number claiming it went DOWN last year! Even fewer are claiming the additional government support.

One thing that local businesses all seem to agree on is the impact of the government's temporary cut in VAT. A massive 85% say that it has either had no impact, or is counterproductive. So much for helping businesses!

The survey is now available on-line, and businesses who would still like to complete the survey form are encouraged to do so. The survey can be found at the following address www.libertyresearch.org.uk/take/508 . The on-line survey, which will be kept open until March, saves people the cost of a stamp - and means we have the results quicker.

The final results will be published soon at a reception hosted by Lib Dem MP - Lembit Opik in March.