Bridgend County Borough Council has further extended its concessionary rent scheme for market traders and occupiers of small industrial units.
The current 50 per cent discount will run until 31 August 2021, after which a 25 per cent reduction will begin. This will remain in place throughout September, and rents will return to their normal rates in October.
The move will mark the conclusion of a phased series of concessionary rates introduced at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 to support small and medium-sized businesses.
From an initial rent-free period, this later became a 75 per cent reduction as businesses started to reopen, gradually changing to a 50 per cent reduction. A 25 per cent reduction was originally planned to start in October last year, but the council agreed to extend the 50 per cent reduction instead.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the council has done all that it can to support local businesses. As the only commercial premises that we own are either market stalls or small-to-medium-sized industrial units, we decided early on to firstly instigate a rent freeze, and then to introduce a gradual series of discounts to help businesses get back on their feet.
With vaccinations increasing and pandemic restrictions continuing to ease, life is slowly but surely returning to normal, and while we should continue to take all necessary precautions against exposure to coronavirus, we must also plan ahead for the future.
These latest measures will ensure that our support for local traders can continue while also enabling businesses to plan ahead – visit the council website at www.bridgend.gov.uk for further advice about what additional support is available.
Deputy Leader Hywel Williams
