{"id":250428,"date":"2026-01-21T19:49:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T19:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/250428\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T19:49:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T19:49:15","slug":"traders-raise-concerns-over-rates-and-rising-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/250428\/","title":{"rendered":"Traders raise concerns over rates and rising costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ashleigh Swan & Mike McBrideBBC News NI<\/p>\n

\"BBCBBC<\/p>\n

Traders like Danny Gallagher in Strabane say that the growth of online shopping, alongside rising staffing and operating costs, has left businesses struggling<\/p>\n

Business owners in Strabane, County Tyrone, have called for more to be done to support town centres as traders struggle with rising costs.<\/p>\n

It comes as small business owners in the town are meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss concerns, including the level of business rates they are paying.<\/p>\n

A number of traders have said that the growth of online shopping, alongside rising staffing and operating costs, has left many struggling to stay afloat.<\/p>\n

The Department of Finance (DoF) said it provided about \u00a3250m in rate support almost 30,000 businesses in the current financial year.<\/p>\n

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today<\/a> programme, Danny Gallagher, owner of RK’s Menswear in Strabane, said it is increasingly difficult to run a business.<\/p>\n

“I worked here from 1982 to 1991 and Strabane, like many towns, is not the same as it was back then,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Online shopping definitely affects us and footfall isn’t what it used to be.<\/p>\n

“Between your rent, rates, electricity, broadband, and the cost of staff, it’s getting harder and harder to make ends meet.”<\/p>\n

He said he pays more than \u00a33,000 a year in business rates but feels he is not getting value for money.<\/p>\n

“When you hear things like we’re the second highest in Northern Ireland for rates, it’s a bit maddening. <\/p>\n

“We’re actually higher than Belfast, and Belfast is buzzing. <\/p>\n

“I wouldn’t think there are as many businesses closing there as in Strabane, Derry, and other local towns, so no, it’s not worth it.”<\/p>\n

‘Shutters down, dilapidated buildings’<\/p>\n

Gallagher said the council needs to take a good look at town centres and reduce rates so that it can attract businesses.<\/p>\n

“You take a drive around Strabane and most towns, and the number of closed businesses – shutters down, dilapidated buildings – there’s got to be something done to attract people back into town,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"Declan<\/p>\n

Declan Hughes, the owner of Gormley Shoes, believes an enterprise zone is the only way to encourage more people into the town centre<\/p>\n

Declan Hughes, owner of Gormley Shoes, said he pays up to \u00a37,000 a year in business rates, even with small business rate relief.<\/p>\n

He has traded in Strabane for decades, but said conditions have worsened.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been here 30 years and when I look at that back street there, it’s just shocking,” he said.<\/p>\n

“There’s been next to no money spent and no forward thinking.”<\/p>\n

He described talk of a town-centre regeneration as long overdue.<\/p>\n

“When we first came here in 1994, there were plans for Strabane by 2000, but most never came to fruition,” he said.<\/p>\n

He said the town centre needs a clear long-term vision, including an enterprise zone.<\/p>\n

“That means zero rates, or as low as possible, otherwise you’re not going to attract entrepreneurs. <\/p>\n

“They’re not going to choose the town centre because it’s too expensive.”<\/p>\n

\"Michael<\/p>\n

Michael O’Neill, who owns Floral Bliss flower shop, says so many businesses are really struggling<\/p>\n

Michael O’Neill, who owns Floral Bliss, a flower shop in the town, said the number of shutters down throughout Strabane is a worrying sign.<\/p>\n

“A lot of the businesses, as you can see if you look around, have their shutters down due to the high rates and the lack of footfall,” he said.<\/p>\n

O’Neill said he pays about \u00a34,000 in business rates and struggles to see where that money is going.<\/p>\n

“The town centre is derelict at the moment,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Yes, there is a plan coming in to regenerate the town centre, as far as I know, and I think that’s what we’re holding on to – to see if it brings us any more business.”<\/p>\n

The DoF said it was consulting on options for enhancing the small business rate relief scheme for April this year. <\/p>\n

The department said the Finance Minister John O’Dowd had also committed to reviewing all rate support by the end of the 2027\/28 rating year.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson said this would “tackle the high level of vacancies in our towns and city centres”, as well as supporting businesses starting out. <\/p>\n

In a statement, Derry City and Strabane District Council said it “fully recognises the significant pressures facing local businesses” and provides support including direct grant funding.<\/p>\n

The council said it “is responsible for setting the district portion of rates only” and, despite rising costs and funding cuts, “strives to keep rate increases as low as possible”.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson said that “approximately 61% of local businesses are entitled to exemptions and other rates reliefs”, while the council is also “driving forward a multi-million pound transformative investment programme” across the area.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ashleigh Swan & Mike McBrideBBC News NI BBC Traders like Danny Gallagher in Strabane say that the growth…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":250429,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[114,184,85,46],"class_list":{"0":"post-250428","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-economy","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-economy","10":"tag-il","11":"tag-israel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250428\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/250429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}