A MUSSELBURGH trader is calling for more support for small businesses in a bid to keep the town centre “vibrant”.

Sharon Brown, 41, of Blueberry, claimed the Scottish Government and East Lothian Council could do more to help shopkeepers who are struggling to survive.

She is calling for the removal of business rates and a reduction in rent on council-owned shops, which she said was “excessive”.

Her concerns were raised at a meeting of Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council by chairwoman Irene Tait, who said other shopkeepers had also brought up the issue.

“They are wondering why they are having to pay so much in council-owned property,” said Mrs Tait.

“You are talking about £11,000 a year, so you have got to make over £1,000 a month just to pay the rent and rates. We are in a situation that we have to keep what we have got left.”

Ward councillor Stuart Currie, who was at the meeting, agreed to raise the concerns with the council.

Mrs Brown started in business in the Honest Toun in June 2015, selling gifts and sweet treats from the High Street shop she rents for £8,500 a year from the council. Her rates amount to just more than £2,500 annually – a 50 per cent discount.

She told the Courier: “There has been no help and no reduction on the rent to get you up and running, and no fund there to help. I don’t see why a small business pays rates. I get a 50 per cent reduction, otherwise the rates on the shop without this would be more than £5,000 a year.”

Mrs Brown said: “I am struggling to understand what my rates pay for.

“If I put it into the context of council tax, which is your home equivalent, that pays for your lighting and you get your bins emptied. As a small business, you have to pay extra for your water and sewage which you don’t pay with your council tax.

“I literally have a kettle and toilet which costs me £50/£60 month, so that’s a lot to boil the kettle twice a day and go to the toilet.

“You then have to pay for rubbish removal on top of that as well because the business rates don’t cover any waste removal. To run the shop is probably a good £12,000/£12,500 a year before I have taken a penny for myself, so it is quite an expensive business.”

She added: “There are lots of small businesses opening and they are not surviving. It is a struggle and the fact that three small businesses have closed down tells you all you need to know. I think the council could also help to promote the High Street. They don’t do anything that I can see except the Shop Local initiative at Christmas. There is no communication with small businesses.”

Another Musselburgh shopkeeper, Julie Durham, of Grace Notes on Market Street, said she had only been in business for six months and hadn’t noticed anything “negative or positive” as yet. She opened up in the council-owned shop selling musical gifts and accessories, along with her mum Susan, and gives instruction on a variety of instruments.

She said: “We went to the council’s Business Gateway at Queen Margaret University and they were really helpful, giving us advice on various things which could help.”

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “Business rates are set by the Scottish Government based on the rateable value of non-domestic properties, which are determined by an independent assessor. Values are re-assessed around every five years. Councils have no discretion to amend rates.

“The council has a comprehensive programme of support for businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to established companies looking to expand or diversify. We have three Business Gateway officers who offer advice, covering everything from marketing to accounting, signposting to free business consultancy support, finding suitable business premises within the county and possible funding streams including grants and interest-free loans.

“Business Gateway also delivers a range of free workshops covering a wide range of topics, from social media to e-commerce. We are eager to work with any East Lothian business looking for advice and support – and to potential entrepreneurs with a business idea to develop. We also produce a quarterly newsletter for businesses.

“East Lothian Council currently rents out 46 retail units across the county. Our asking rents are set at market value to obtain best value for the council, which we have a statutory duty to achieve. However, we do appreciate that some businesses can experience difficulties. If a business owner lets us know they are in financial difficulties we can often arrange temporary rent reductions. We also have a rent arrears process for tenants who fall behind with their rent payments.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are doing everything within our powers to support our economy, including action to maintain a competitive business rates regime. For example, our small business bonus has already delivered over £1 billion in savings for smaller firms and we have committed to further expand that scheme from April next year to remove the rates burden from 100,000 Scottish premises.

“We commenced an external review precisely so we could engage with business and explore how rates can better reflect economic conditions and support growth. We warmly welcome the contributions of the business community to that process.”