Customers at Manze’s pie and mash shop

• THE news that the institution that is Manze’s pie and mash shop in Chapel Market is set to close its doors is devastating (Historic pie and mash shop set to close, July 28).

Traditional, family-run businesses like Manze’s are part of what makes Islington such a diverse and great place to live in and visit.

The sad fact is that the government’s business rates increase is having a massive impact in Islington – just as businesses, Islington Chamber of Commerce, Angel Business Improvement District and Islington Council said it would.

Islington is the third-hardest-hit borough in the country from the rates rise, with average increases set to hit 45 per cent and the total bill for business rates rising by almost £100m. It’s simply not doable.

Despite working together with the council to organise a 14,250-signature petition against the rates rise, which we personally handed in together at the Treasury, the government has ploughed on with its devastating tax hike.

We need the government to see sense and bring forward much more generous rates reliefs to support businesses. Despite a Conservative manifesto promise to look at the rates systems, we haven’t heard a thing.

Meanwhile, businesses simply cannot cope. We fear this is only the beginning of the end for some of our businesses. Once the rates kick in, businesses will be kicked out.

We will continue to do all we can to support small businesses, including working with the council to keep making the case for small businesses to government.

HAK HUSEYIN
Vice-chairman, Islington Chamber of Commerce