Labour 'back in' business?

Rochester & Strood Labour had a visit from John Denham MP last week to highlight how small business is being let down by the Tories.

Across Rochester small businesses are crying out for an administration in Gun Wharf that will help in times of economic difficulty. In Strood, traders are worried about the number of major superstores and the impact on local footfall. In Chatham, ongoing concerns about the persistant road works (coming to completetion) but which, together with the recession, have led to a decline in footfall. In Gillingham traders are worred about the ring of steel and CCTV car cameras prying on the shopping motorist.

Small business is the life blood of the towns - and without an administration which day-in day-out focused relentlessly on encouraging and nurturing small business we are beholden to more people having to leave the area and commute elsewhere.

John Denham MP re-iterated that position when he met the storeholders of Rochester Coffee on Saturday. One mechanism highlighted was the temporary VAT cut proposed by Ed Balls which would be of significant help to local tradespeople.