Business rates on Main Street in Larne are the same as Regent Street in London.
Larne Business Forum has written to Communities Minister Gordon Lyons requesting an extraordinary audit of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s finances after a massive rise in business rates. [...] Larne Business Forum said it believes "unsustainable non-domestic rates burdens being placed on local businesses are undermining the very survival of some in the small business sector". [...] Larne Business Fourm also expressed concern over a £7.2m shortfall in the council’s finances saying that "we noted that no suitable explanation has ever been provided to ratepayers as to how such an extraordinary shortfall was allowed to happen".