Town pins hope on lower rates

A scheme offering new businesses lower rates if they set up in deprived areas could help reverse the fortunes of a Black Country town, a councillor claims.

Lye, once a centre for engineering and industry, suffered as firms closed or left. Councillor Adrian Turner says: "There is a scheme where new businesses are given an incentive to open in disadvantaged areas by being offered better rates, which could be vital to businesses just starting out. However I do not believe many know about this opportunity.

"I plan to do all I can to increase awareness of this scheme and will be contacting businesses interested in coming into the area to let them know.

"At the moment Lye is only really known for its balti belt but once it was a hub for the engineering and industrial works for the Black Country.

"It may be difficult to get this back again but I think if businesses know this opportunity is there more will come into Lye.

"This is about the future of the town and if Lye is to survive it is vital to get more firms and businesses back into the town as soon as possible."

Councillor Turner added that he believed that the town had already turned a corner with three new units set to open in Dudley Road, the former site of the OK Diner.

The stores, built by Stewardson Developments Ltd, are nearing completion with two already filled – one by Subway and the other by a cleaning firm.

Offers have also been made for the third unit which bosses from the firm are currently looking at the best possible bid for the site.

"This will be a real boost to Lye and I am looking forward to seeing them open," he said.

"There is still a lot of work to do in the town but this gives us a very strong start," he added.

Phil Stewardson, from the firm, said that building work on the site would finish next week with the two exisiting stores set to open soon after.