I READ the letter from Bill Brandwood of the Liberal Party.

I found his letter to be interesting due to the fact that the last government put in place a small business rate relief of up to 50 per cent reduction in rates for businesses with a rateable value below £6,000 and the current government extended this.

As per the letter I received from my council: “The current temporary increase in small business rate relief, which started on October 1, 2010 and was due to end on September 30, 2011, will now continue for a further year (October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012).

“The measure doubles the usual rate of relief so that rate payers with a rateable value below £6,000 pay no rates at all for the period, while taxpayers with rateable values between £6,000 and not more than £12,000 receive tapered relief from 100 per cent to 0 per cent.”

Prior to receiving this letter I listened to the budget and was happy when the Chancellor announced this. I have to ask Mr Brandwood "What budget did you listen to?".

IAN MCMILLAN, The McPet Shop, Walkford, Christchurch