Rates relief welcomed

Sinn Fin Councillors Noel McGeown and Mairead O’Dowd who sit on Craigavon Council’s Estimates Working Group welcomed the move.

Cllr McGeown noted that 357 small businesses had received 50 percent rates relief and a further 681 businesses received 25 percent relief.

He said: “In the present economic climate it is essential that we take all measures available to us to encourage local small businesses to continue to operate.

"Small entrepreneurial businesses are the future of our local economy and we have a responsibility to provide them with whatever assistance we can.”

Agreeing with her colleague, Cllr Mairead O’Dowd pointed out that: “By encouraging entrepreneurship we are encouraging future employment and it is only right during a period of recession that all possible measures are taken to ensure the survival of this important part of our local commerce.”

Mairead went on to welcome the granting of rate relief to a number of small Post Offices saying: “Local Post Offices are an indispensable means of holding local communities together and in a harsh economic climate their importance to local residents becomes even more relevant.

"I wholeheartedly welcome the news that 11 Post Offices have been granted 100 per cent Rate relief and a further two post offices have received 50 per cent relief. This relief will ensure the continuation of essential services to those who most in need that service.”