Westport business owners to meet regarding ‘massive’ rates increases

BUSINESSOWNERS in Westport are to meet this evening (Tuesday) to discuss what has been described as ‘massive’ increase in business rates.

The meeting, organised by Westport Business Association (WBA), will take place in the Castlecourt Hotel at 8pm. 

Businesses across the West Mayo town have raised grave concerns about their recent rates bill, with one local business seeing a rise of over €7,000.

Graham Byrne, President of Westport Chamber of Commerce and owner of Krem Geletaria and Café on Westport’s Bridge Street, told The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) that attendees will be discussing how to proceed amid higher rate bills and ‘massive’ increases in running costs.

“The belief is that the valuations have been increased willy-nilly and the appealing process is the only way to get them to where they kind of technically should be,” he said.

In addition to widespread hikes in commercial rates, Mr Byrne said that the cost of electricity had gone ‘through the roof’ for many Westport businesses.

The West Mayo town has also been hit by a drop in tourist footfall due to the use of many hospitality beds as refugee accommodation.

Twenty-one percent of all Fáilte Ireland-registered tourist accommodation in Mayo is currently being used by the government.

“It’s hard to keep an eye on all these price increases,” said Mr Byrne, who saw the commercial rates bill for his own premises rise by nearly €1,400.