In Parliament yesterday, Karl McCartney JP MP, Member of Parliament for the City of Lincoln, called for both Lincolnshire Co-operative and Lincoln City Council to provide more support for Sincil Street traders during a time where large scale regeneration projects are causing a shortfall in the number of customers to the various independently run shops in the Sincil Street and Cornhill area.
During Parliamentary questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Karl urged Lincolnshire Co-operative to reduce the rent charged to traders in the shopping area given they are responsible for some of the disruption as the Transport Hub work continues. He has also called upon the Valuation Office and Lincoln City Council to reduce the business rates for the traders, as has happened in similar situations in other Cities in the UK. Karl is pleased that this is an issue that Lincoln BIG are taking up on the independent Traders' behalf as well.
Karl McCartney JP MP, Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, said: “Whilst I welcome of course the much-needed redevelopment in this part of Lincoln, the level of disruption is causing a loss of trade to a range of first class independent shops that are the soul of our great City. Even though there are a number of initiatives to support them through this period, more is needed in terms of financial support and this is the probably the most important.
“This is why I believe Lincolnshire Co-Operative have a moral duty as the landlord (who has created this situation) to reduce the rent they charge for this period and that the Lincoln City Council and Valuation Office must reduce the traders' business rates for this difficult period too.
“As the Member of Parliament for the City of Lincoln, I have always campaigned to make sure that Lincoln has the right mix of independent locally-run shops standing side by side with the chain stores. It makes for a vibrant City Centre. This is why I believe more can be done to support these shops, and have done my best to assist them in the small ways I can and because it is part of my continuing campaign as the Member of Parliament to Put Lincoln First.”
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The Parliamentary Question and Answer in Parliament can be found at this link: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-04-24a.892.0&s=speaker%3A24790#g892.1
For further information, please contact Karl McCartney MP at [email protected] / 020 7219 7221.