A RISE in business rates will be “another nail in the coffin” for small businesses, it is feared.

The next business rates revaluation by the Government comes into effect on April 1 — the first for seven years.

The rate, like council tax, depends on the size of the building and what it is used for.

Independent businesses in the district fear for the future.

Ron Sambridge, who founded the Natural Way 34 years ago, said the Braintree High Street store did not fall into the small business category, which means it does not qualify for cuts in rates.

He said: “I know business rates have risen, we were receiving a discount but it went up to the full amount which has been crippling to us here.

“I know rates have come down slightly this year, we were hoping as a small business we would fall into the low rates area, but we are just over the margin so it means the rates won’t go down as much.”

Business owners calculate their business rate by multiplying their rateable value by a cost set by the Government.

For example, £10,000 multiplied by £0.484p would equal £4,840 in business rates for 2016/17.

Richard Sambridge, who owns the Braintree store, said his rateable val- ue is £17,500 and it is likely to go down to £16,500, but his business rates will depend on the multiplier set by the Government.

Yolande Turgoose, who runs Fleurtations on Braintree High Street, said she wanted the Government to keep their promise to help small businesses.

She said: “I have heard some horrendously scary stories.

“It’s ridiculous and everyone feels the same, hopefully the Government will help small businesses.

“They can’t expect an independent business in any high street to have a hike that’s through the roof.”

Tina Townsend, chairman of the Witham Chamber of Commerce, said a lot of businesses could be affected.

She said: “With the high street struggling already, this is just an extra cost shops could do without.

“It could be make or break for some people, it’s like another nail in the coffin, but who knows?”

Mark Bailey, managing director at family business Essex Business Machines, moved into a bigger premises on Witham’s Eastways Industrial Es- tate last year.

He said: “I think it’s important to look at the surrounding area to assess how realistic the rates are, as if they are too high, there is a risk that premises will end up being left empty.

“The fact the last valuations were completed seven years ago rather than five means rates could rise by more than expected, which may be the final nail in the coffin for some small businesses.

“If we were to expand again, we’d be concerned about upscaling to a bigger unit or second premise, as the rates relief cap is set at £12,000.

“If we were to move to larger premises, we’d have to offset the increase in rates somewhere, and whichever route we took, there is a risk of stifling our growth.”