This week, the Chancellor set out the Budget, and I’m pleased to see much-needed measures to support high streets across South Dorset – not least in Purbeck, where small independent businesses are the backbone of our towns and villages.
From the cafés and gift shops of Swanage to the pubs and traders of Wareham, Corfe Castle and Wool, Purbeck’s economy depends on visitors and residents choosing to shop locally. Too often, our businesses have been squeezed by busy summers followed by long, quiet winters, while costs keep rising all year round. This Budget starts to change that.
First, this Labour government is backing the exciting MEMO Portland proposals with £20 million fresh investment. We can now crack on and build MEMO Portland (an educational charity), strengthening the arts, heritage and culture offer along our stretch of the Jurassic Coast. MEMO will bring new visitors to Dorset, and many will want to see more of our coastline, from Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge to Studland and Old Harry Rocks. It means more people riding the Swanage Railway, more walkers stopping for lunch, and more bookings for our B&Bs and holiday lets. Above all, it helps build the all-year-round tourism economy our communities need, so footfall doesn’t disappear when the summer crowds head home.
Second, the Chancellor confirmed that pubs, clubs and live music venues are set to benefit from a 20 per cent cut to their business rates.
Purbeck’s pubs are far more than places to grab a pint. In our villages, the local pub is the heart of the community, hosting quiz nights, live music and local gatherings. This is exactly what our fantastic pubs deserve.
Third, the Chancellor is expanding Small Business Rate Relief: more than half of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will pay no business rates at all. This is great news for Purbeck, where so many shops, cafés and tearooms are small, family-run operations.
All other businesses will see their business rates frozen in real terms for the next two years. That prevents above-inflation increases and gives local firms the certainty they need to plan, invest and take on staff.
Fourth, vape shops and gambling shops will no longer be eligible for business rates relief, while lower-stake machines in pubs and seaside arcades are unaffected. With this approach, we can curb the number of these popping up across the county, while protecting the traditional seaside amusements families enjoy. We all want high streets with a mix of businesses that genuinely serve local people, and this helps deliver that.
I firmly believe that this Budget is a step in the right direction for our high streets.
But this is not job done. I will continue to do everything I can to champion Purbeck’s hospitality businesses, back our independent traders, and breathe new life into our town centres, from Swanage and Wareham to Weymouth and Portland.
Lloyd Hatton, MP for South Dorset
