Politicians ‘at loggerheads’ over empty property tax

Nov 20 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

Our logistics fear

TEESPORT logistics operator AV Dawsons - which is about to take on additional rates liability with more than £4.5m of additional storage while its existing facilities are let on a fixed term contract to the Seadragon project - was concerned it could face a six-figure bill once the buildings emptied.

Managing director Gary Dawson said: “The worst case scenario would be having to divest facilities or make redundancies. We would certainly have to cut cost in some way to pay for those facilities standing empty.”

Supporters of the campaign to reinstate empty property rates relief are being urged to sign the Downing Street petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ emptythreat/