Traders in a row of Ealing shops are being driven out of business by a massive tax hike.

Around 20 shops on The Green in central Ealing have been handed a 40 per cent rise in their business rates, which are based on how much the business's premises is worth, meaning they now face crippling bills from the government.

Jim Martinez, who has run Big Jim's Trims there for the last 16 years, said: “I've got one of the smaller units down here and we're facing an extra £500-a-month bill.

“I just don't know where they expect us to find the money from to pay this. I've got another shop in Chiswick and that is so much cheaper than this one.

“This is the kind of thing which will drive shops out of the area.”

The changes were made after an assessment in October by the Valuation Office.

Mr Martinez continued: “They even backdated the bills a couple of months which I just couldn't believe.

“They have given businesses an appeal form but they have to be filled in exactly right or else they will be rejected.

“It seems ridiculous on the one hand the government are saying they want to help small business, and then they turn around and do something like this.”

Steve Breen, who runs the Ealing Broadway Business Improvement District (BID) is rallying the traders to appeal the rise.

He said: “We're working with the traders to mount a realistic challenge to these increases.

“We have tried repeatedly to get hold of the assessor but they say they are too busy to hold a meeting about it, so we have to send in the appeals.

“These are exactly the kind of shops people say they want more of in Ealing, but they are being hammered by these increases.”

  • What do you think of the increase? Leave your comments below.