Sheila Rimmington, of Sheila's Cakes in Welby Street, believes she shouldn't have to pay her full business rates of £9,000 and is taking her appeal to the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce tomorrow (Oct 29).

Sheila plans to take copies of the Journal along to the appeal to show the extent of the programme of roadworks in Grantham.

She said: "The roadworks have had a big affect on me and on everybody else.

"They just killed us. People stopped coming to Grantham because there were that many roadworks and no alternative route.

"I don't blame them- I wouldn't have tried to drive into Grantham either. If you're not getting customers in, how can you pay your bills?

"So I will be there tomorrow to protest."

Sheila says she has been offered a reduction from £9,000 to £8,800 but it is not enough.

She said: "I have come close to shutting twice now. A friend of mine is on the edge and doesn't know whether she will close and I'm the same.

"I pay £375 a month in rates and £625 a month in rent so I have to find £1,000 in profit just to break even. It's a lot to have to find."

Sheila is hoping she will be given a substantial reduction in her rates after she makes her case.

She said: "I haven't got a target, I'll just be looking for something I will be happy to pay.

"They are proposing a reduction of £200 at the moment but that's not good enough really. It's not much over the course of a year."


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