'Council said I wouldn't pay rates on my shop - then I got a court summons'

An independent business owner whose shop was under threat of closure has thanked those who raised thousands to help save it.

Ant Ratcliffe-Gotts has run Handmade in Huddersfield in the Imperial Arcade since September 2022, but said he had been "haunted" by the financial fall-out from an unexpected business rates bill and Kirklees Council's "broken promises".

A fundraising page set up to help the art, gift and flower shop has raised more than £4,000 to put the business "on a much better footing", he told the BBC.

A Kirklees Council spokesperson said they had supported Handmade in Huddersfield over several years "on a range of business matters".

The 42-year-old said the business "quickly took off" after moving to the arcade and outgrew the unit he had been trading from.

"The business team from Kirklees Council were strongly encouraging me to expand," he added.

"Over a period of months they basically talked me into going into this bigger shop."

Ratcliffe-Gotts said he had reservations about the new unit, also located in the Imperial Arcade, because it would be liable for business rates.

But he claimed a council officer reassured him this was not the case and he would be eligible for grants, including on a larger rent contract, which swayed his decision.

He said he found out the premises were liable for business rates when he received a court summons over the payment.

"Nobody in their right mind would open a shop and expand so quickly in the first year when they had no financial backing," said Ratcliffe-Gotts, who is originally from Rossendale in Lancashire.

"The only reason I expanded so quickly was because the council encouraged me to."

He added: "I probably would have ended up in that shop, but there would have been another year of profit-making behind me at least."

The council spokesperson said their business support team offer "practical advice", but insisted: "Ultimately, all business decisions remain firmly the responsibility of the business owner."

The ex-landscape gardner said he had been forced to place his five part-time staff on zero-hour contracts after tightening his belt.

"I have done absolutely everything I can to make this shop viable but the 10 months' rent that was supposed to be paid for with my grant has been on my back the whole time.

"Hopefully things are going to turn out OK."

He paid tribute to those who stepped in to help keep him in business.

"We have done absolutely everything we can to do our bit for the community - it's nice that they have recognised what we have done and repaid us.

"Smaller, independent businesses in Huddersfield need help."

The council spokesperson said: ''We want our town centres to be places where small and independent businesses can invest, grow, and succeed.

"We have worked with Handmade in Huddersfield for several years, providing support on a range of business matters, and we will continue to offer help wherever possible."

Ratcliffe-Gotts said the council's chief executive, Steve Mawson, had offered to meet with him to discuss his concerns.

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