I have had a number of approaches in recent weeks from Bilston Market traders who could not get Business Interruption grants from the Government because they pay their rates collectively through the market rather than being individually rated.

It’s an old issue which has rumbled on for some time but it was made much more urgent because paying rates collectively rendered the traders ineligible for the new Government grants.

I have had a lot of contact with the council and the Valuation Office about this in recent weeks and I am glad to say we have received news that the businesses will now be individually rated, meaning they should also now be able to receive the government grants.

I hope the money gets to the traders quickly and is a help to small businesses trying to survive what is an extremely difficult time.