Lobby group 'calls for waiving of empty property tax'

A business lobby group Downtown Liverpool in Business (DLIB) has called on the local government to waive the empty property tax to help commercial property businesses see out the credit crunch.

Chairman of DLIP Frank McKenna told a recent meeting of businesses that the imposition of the tax is having a massive impact on local firms.

Mr McKenna stated that some buildings are being demolished because owners feel unable to pay the tax.

"Ideally, we would like to see the Government scrap the empty property levy. However, in the absence of action at a national level, we are calling on local authorities across the Liverpool city region to use their discretion to waive the tax for the foreseeable future," he said.

However, ldpbusiness.com reports that a spokesperson Liverpool city council asserted that because it is a national directive, it does not have the power to waive the tax.

Earlier in the year, another pressure group - the Forum of Private Business - stated that the effects of the credit crunch will be magnified by the tax.

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