Businesses in rural towns face steep hikes in rates

Thousands of struggling businesses are facing huge hikes in their council rates bills due to the abolition of town councils.

The 80 town councils generally used to charge lower commercial rates for businesses in their areas than those charged by city and county councils. Former environment minister Phil Hogan had promised that there would be rates decreases as a result of the savings made by the abolitions, which saw the number of councillors ...