Dozens of pubs in Hazel Grove hit with crippling hikes to their business rates still haven’t received any funding from the government’s flagship relief scheme, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The government announced last March that pubs in England hit with higher business rates would receive a one-off £1,000 annual discount. But six months on, Stockport still hasn’t begun distributing the funds,  blaming a delayed software update.

Across England, four in ten councils still haven’t even been able to start distributing the relief.

The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to protect pubs by introducing a 12.5% cap on business rate increases, as is currently the case in Scotland.

Liberal Democrat campaigner Paul Ankers commented:

“Pubs have been closing in Hazel Grove, like the Royal Oak or White Hart. Local pubs have been hit with crippling tax hikes are now being left in the lurch. The scheme was rushed and is yet another blunder by our government. I don’t want more closed pubs in Hazel Grove.

 We need to properly protect pubs by capping business rate rises at 12.5%.