Business rates slammed amid closures in Oxfordshire town

Both the Wantage Chamber of Commerce and local MP Olly Glover have called for reform to the rates system following reports that both national and independent businesses with bases in the town are struggling.

Most recently women’s clothing store New Look, off Limborough Road, announced it would shut at the end of April.

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Reacting to this, one shopper, who asked not to be named, said: “Diabolical that we barely have any clothes shops left in Wantage. Greedy landlords charging too much rent.”

Others also shared their concern for the high street in the town, which was where King Alfred the Great was born more than 1,000 years ago.

Olly Glover MP in Wantage (Image: Olly Glover)

In addition TG Jones – the successor to WH Smith which has a base at Kings Park Shopping Centre – is reportedly considering a number of closures and several independent businesses have shut in recent times as well.

This includes Cozzy Lounge in Newbury Street and the Wantage Chippy in Wallingford Street.

Both Mr Glover and the chamber were keen to street that Wantage remains a vibrant town with resilient businesses but were critical of the current economic environment.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Didcot and Wantage said: “High street businesses across the country are being undermined by a range of government policies such as the National Insurance rise, an unfair business rates system and ever-increasing energy costs.

New Look in Wantage (Image: Google Maps)

“After a useful meeting with Wantage Chamber of Commerce, I challenged treasury minister Dan Tomlinson in the House of Commons this week on when Labour’s manifesto promise of major change to business rates system would actually happen.

“The response was that their plans were set out in the budget. However, I know from Wantage businesses that those changes were just tinkering round the edges.”

The issue of business rates is particularly pertinent now as at the start of April, the government reset the value measure for the tax – increasing the bill for many – and reduced relief across a number of sectors.

Wantage Chippy in 2023 (Image: Ed Nix)

Maeri Howard of the chamber of commerce said that while Wantage businesses are “not immune” to the challenging environment, new shops are still choosing Wantage and entrepreneurs continue to have confidence in the town.

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She said: “The chamber of commerce is actively working to support that confidence — advocating on issues like business rates that place a disproportionate burden on local businesses, connecting businesses with one another, and ensuring that Wantage remains a place where businesses want to be.

“The most meaningful support for our businesses would come through genuine reform of business rates, which continue to penalise physical premises at a time when they need encouragement, not additional burden.”

She added: “Wantage has challenges, but it also has genuine strengths — and a business community that is working hard together to build on them.”