THE battle over business rates moved up a notch as traders handed over a petition containing more than 5,000 names.

Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay accepted the petition protesting ‘catastrophic’ new rate valuations which retailers say could see many of them shutting up shop.

Last week also saw Monmouth MP David Davies press Prime Minister Theresa May in the Commons to back more aid from the Welsh Government for hard-pressed town centres.

Mr Ramsay attended a protest by Monmouth shopkeepers and shoppers to receive the petition at the town’s historic Monnow Bridge last Friday (March 31).

The Conservative AM helped instigate the protest last autumn, after news of the “damaging effects” of the Valuation Office Agency’s revaluation surfaced, adding thousands of pounds to some traders’ bills.

Mr Ramsay said: “The fact that this petition has been signed by so many people sends a powerful message to the Welsh Government, that our high streets are important to us and we demand action to save them.

“Small businesses are vital to the local economy, but the business rates revaluation will harm many small shops and has already resulted in several having to close their doors, lay off staff or relocate.

“I pay tribute to everyone in Monmouthshire who has backed this petition, including shop owners like Steve Porter, who has been vociferously standing up for high street shops in Monmouth.”

Mr Porter, who runs Stephens Bookshop in Monmouth, and who has run a campaign through Monmouth Small Medium Enterprises, handed over the petition.

He said: “Four shops have closed in Monmouth in recent months, including Shirtbox in Agincourt Square, and more will be under threat unless something is done.

“The whole thing is totally unfair, because many small independent traders in Monmouth have been clobbered, while businesses right next to the shining new Friars Walk development in Newport have seen their rates go down. If it was truly based on rental value, as they say, then surely those would have gone up.

“The £10m the Welsh Government have set aside to help traders by providing rate relief only lasts a couple of years and only postpones the day some will have to close.

“Unless they change this rise, it’s going to see many shops call it a day. Hopefully this petition gets that message across that the high street is under threat.”

Monmouth Conservative MP David Davies said last month that businesses across the border in the Forest would benefit from “far more generous” rate relief support from the Westminster Government than traders in Wales.

And he raised the issue with Theresa May during Prime Minister’s Questions last Wednesday (March 29), backing calls for more help from the Welsh Government.

He asked the PM: “The Budget gave an extra £200m to the Welsh Labour Government in order to provide business rates relief.

“Does she agree with me and the leader of Monmouthshire County Council, Peter Fox OBE, that Welsh Labour must now commit to spending that money on supporting Welsh businesses and giving them the same level of support that is being provided in England by this Conservative Government?”

The PM replied: “The Chancellor announced a £200m boost for the Welsh Government’s budget. They will be able to use that money to support their own priorities, but the people of Wales will be able to send a very clear signal about those priorities by voting for Conservative councillors, like Peter Fox, on 4 May.”