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Melton business park plan 'could create hundreds of jobs'

Business leaders have welcomed plans to transform a rundown industrial park – and potentially create hundreds of jobs.

Rotherhill Developments, in Wartnaby, wants to turn a site next to Holwell Works, Asfordby Hill, Melton, into a 22-acre business park.

The plan, which has been submitted to Melton Borough Council, could see business units of varying sizes built at the site around the Stute and Holwell Sports football ground, in Welby Road.

Paul Bagshaw, director at Rotherhill Developments, said that with planning approval the site could offer a single, large unit or a number of smaller units, depending on demand.

He said the firm was already in talks with a number of prospective tenants and construction could start by the end of the year, depending on planning approval.

Mr Bagshaw said: "We aim to get planning permission on an outline basis and start marketing it further down the line.

"We've done speculative development in the past, and towards the end of this year the timing might be better to build.

"It's a brownfield site, it's been redundant for a long while – it's got to be good for Melton in terms of creating jobs."

He said occupants on the site would most likely be companies involved in manufacturing, storage and distribution.

Ron Marks, president of Melton Chamber of Trade, said the plans were "very encouraging" and would help breathe life into an area hit by job cuts.

He said: "It's very encouraging that developers are interested in the site.

"If it comes to fruition, it would be very important for jobs.

"I'm all in favour of the plans because there'd be advantages for Melton in many ways – it would take a brownfield site and create employment and give impetus to the area."

The plans include an area which would be maintained for wildlife, plus allotments to be given to Asfordby Parish Council.

According to a survey by the council reported in March, Melton has seen one of the fastest increases in unemployment anywhere in Leicestershire.

The rate of unemployment rose from less than one per cent last April to 2.3 per cent.

Scores of jobs have been lost in the area at firms including window maker Jeld-Wen and Elsome Engineering, in Asfordby Hill.

However, Samworth Brothers recently gave the area a boost after announcing plans to create between 50 and 100 jobs at its Melton Foods business off Leicester Road, Melton, as it prepares to take advantage of a predicted upturn in demand.

Rotherhill Developments' other sites include industrial units at Riverside Court, Market Harborough, and in Old Dalby.

Melton Borough Council said the application would be dealt with by officers in the next eight to 10 weeks before going before a planning committee.

2,300 Leicestershire firms delay £41m of tax payments

More than 2,300 struggling businesses have been given help with spreading out tax bills worth £41m during the downturn.

The figure has more than doubled since mid-February, when 1,000 firms had been allowed to delay payments after a Government scheme was launched in November.

A total of 560 businesses in Leicester and a further 1,650 in Leicestershire received help from the HM Revenue and Customs' Business Payment Support Service up to May 17.

Some 130 firms in Rutland have also benefited.

Most agreed to spread out their payments for between three and six months, according to the Government figures.

A spokeswoman for the Federation of Small Businesses in Leicestershire said the figures were higher than they had expected but were still likely to rise further as small firms battled against cash flow problems in the recession.

Tax experts said there could be another surge of interest ahead of the next tax payment deadline of July 31.

A Leicestershire business which supplies protective clothing for food factories said the scheme had been a "big help". The boss of the £200,000 turnover company, who asked not to be named, told the Leicester Mercury: "We were facing a VAT bill of £3,500, which we were able to spread across three months.

"It coincided with the recession starting to bite and us buying in extra stock, so we were being really squeezed on cashflow.

"If we hadn't had this scheme we'd have been in a position where we'd be busting our overdraft level with the bank, and if you're not careful, the banks can put you out of business by stopping your overdraft altogether.

"The alternative to not breaching the overdraft would be stopping paying suppliers, which means they stop supplying you and then you can't sell anything.

"The Government's got it right with this scheme.

"However, businesses need to make sure they use it before their bills are due because if you get on the wrong side of the taxman, they can be very difficult to deal with."

More firms in Leicestershire have used the scheme than in Nottinghamshire, where 2,070 have reached agreements.

In Derby and Derbyshire, the figure was 2,220.

Maxine Aldred, from the Leicestershire branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "I'm surprised the figure is that high in Leicestershire because what I'm hearing is that while the garden isn't exactly full of roses, things are on the move.

"I would think the number of cases in Leicestershire would increase, but I'd say the biggest rise has happened and it will just be small rises from now on."

Peter Clare, of Glen Parva tax advice firm Mr Tax, said dozens of his clients had expressed interest in the service after getting into financial difficulties.

He said: "I expect we could see a surge of interest with the next tax deadline coming up on July 31."

The scheme can be reached on 0845 302 1435.

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