Prestatyn High Street stores close in protest against business rates

The protest, organised by the Prestatyn Business Forum, saw business owners gather outside the Scala cinema on High Street from 10am, while holding up placards with messages such as “keep it fair”, “keep it open”, “keep it local”, and “help save your local businesses”.

Their grievances stem from the fact that, in Wales, business rate relief (discount on business rates) is currently 40 per cent, as opposed to 75 per cent in England.

Business owners on Prestatyn’s High Street also cited the introduction of 20mph speed limits on residential roads in Wales, the closure of the town’s Pontins holiday park, and “poor travel links” as other possible reasons for a decline in trade.

Anton Sampson, chair of the Prestatyn Business Forum and a former mayor of the town, said: “The money from the UK Government was passed on to Welsh Government, but they haven’t passed it on to local businesses, unfortunately.

Anton Sampson (Image: Newsquest) “We think the UK Government should insist to Welsh Government that that money should be ‘ring-fenced’ (set aside for a specific purpose).

“We’re just after a bit of parity with England, so that it’s a level playing field. It’s just fairness that we want. We don’t want anything more than them, we just want the same as them.

“Businesses from Wrexham, Llangollen and Rhyl have also shown support for what we’re doing, which is handy.”

Car drivers beeped their horns in support of the protesters as they passed the Scala cinema, while a petition was also signed by many residents who came by.

A sign outside some closed shops read: “This is how our High Street will look if we do not get a fair deal from Welsh Government and Westminster. We need your support.”

The Deli on the Hill was one of the shops to paper over their windows today (Image: Newsquest) Outside other closed shops, a sign read: “High energy costs. Lower footfall. Refuse costs. 35 per cent higher business rates than England. Low consumer confidence. Low business confidence. Help save our High Street!”

Hayley Morgan, who is in her fourth year of running The Twisted Tree gift shop on High Street, said her business rates rose from £154 a month in 2023, to £360 a month in 2024.

This increase has coincided with a “massive” drop in footfall at her shop, she said.

“Everywhere you turn, you’re being slapped around the face with a wet kipper,” she said.

“I don’t think 20mph is the be-all-and-end-all, but what it is doing is making tourists nervous to come to Wales, because they can’t afford endless fines from speeding tickets.

Hayley Morgan and Dave Humphreys of The Twisted Tree (Image: Newsquest) “Pontins closing had a massive impact – that’s 1,000-1,500 people no longer coming into the town every week. If each of them spent just £5 in the town, that’s a lot of money

“Small independent businesses are invaluable to the economy, and to communities. We have many customers who we laugh and cry with - quite often, there are screams of laughter coming out of here.”

Dan Jones, of Tu Mundo coffee shop, helped organise today’s protest.

He said he fear Prestatyn’s High Street is “on the slide” and that he “won’t have customers in two years’ time, because there’ll be nobody on the high street”.

“As business owners, we’re not getting the support we need,” he said.

Dan Jones outside Tu Mundo, which closed today (Image: Newsquest) “It’s completely unfair that England have 75 per cent rate relief and we’re stuck with 40 per cent - especially when Welsh Government are given that money but choose to spend it on other things, and won’t then tell us what they’ve spent it on.

“We always used to pay above the minimum wage. Now, it’s almost impossible to do so, and still remain competitive.

“It just seems that we’re put in a compromised position all the time, and we shouldn’t be.

“We’re four train stops away from Chester. Yet we have to charge the same prices as Chester (businesses) just to stand still, because Chester gets more support.”

Andy Walker, of nearby Tree Tops Caravan Park, said he feels business owners in Wales have been left in an “appalling” predicament as a result of “one hare-brained scheme after another”.

He added: "There doesn’t seem to be any dynamic thinking within Welsh Government, to say: ‘Times are really hard at the moment; we need to change our model, even if just for a year or two.

“Welsh Government also need to look at the point at which the rates kick in, because in Wales, you start paying rates at an earlier level than in, say, Chester.

“What are we trying to do to Wales? We should be making it the most attractive place to do business.”

Antique shop Presents With A Difference was another to close as part of today's protest (Image: Newsquest) A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We provide a range of permanent non-domestic rates reliefs for businesses, worth £250m a year.

“This includes small business rates relief, which supports ratepayers for around 70,000 properties across Wales, of which more than two-thirds pay nothing at all.

“We are also providing additional non-domestic rates support worth £134m in 2024-25.

“This includes a fifth successive year of support for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with their rates bills, at a cost of £78m, building on the almost £1bn of support provided in rates relief to these sectors since 2020-21.

“Only one in five properties are liable for their full bill this year.”