Traders have pleaded for help to bring down business rates in Morpeth.
A benchmarking study carried out by Morpeth Town Team shows rental and property costs to be the second biggest negative aspect to trading in the area, with 53 per cent of respondents to a business confidence survey highlighting them as an issue.
At a public meeting organised by the team, businessman Ken Stait, of Stait Photography, appealed for support to bring down some of the costs.
“The business rates are identified in the benchmarking survey in that every business in Morpeth has quite a lot of costs,” he said.
“I just wonder if the Town Team could put together representations to the Valuation Office because businesses as individuals find it difficult to have their appeals heard and explain that footfall patterns have changed in the town.”
He was assured that the team would look into it.