There are tough times ahead in 2011 is the main theme of the New Year’s message from Essex FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) Chairman Iain Wicks published today.
Essex FSB Chairman, Iain Wicks, said: “2010 has been a challenging year for the 68,000 small businesses across Essex, Havering and Redbridge and sadly we have seen far too many cease trading during the year.
“The year started with snow and ice causing chaos for businesses and ended in the same way; in between we saw many businesses face very difficult times and the signs are that 2011 will be a tough year too.
“The VAT rise to 20 per cent on 04 January 2011 is not the best way to encourage businesses and individuals to increase their spending to get the economy back on the move and in April the Government increase tolls at the Dartford Crossing by a third with a further increase in the pipeline for 2012 – at the same time the promise that the £47 million annual profit from the tolls will be spent improving the local road network has been broken with the money disappearing into a central pot.
“The future of our town centres also looks bleak with local authorities seeing their finances under pressure and trying to make good the shortfall by increasing parking and other charges which in turn impact on local businesses and their future viability.
“The East of England Development Agency closes this year with many of its responsibilities falling to the Greater Essex, Kent and East Sussex Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) but if the LEP, and its four delivery groups in Essex, is to be effective it must properly engage with and listen to the recognised business organisations and act upon the suggestions they make.
“Failure to do so will mean the LEP will fail to support the local economy and become an irrelevance to local businesses.
