BUSINESSES appealing against their rates bills have plummeted in Bradford, according to new data.

The latest statistics from the Valuation Office Agency’s ‘Check, Challenge, Appeal’ business rates system show a 94 per cent drop in the number of businesses challenging their bills in the last two years in Bradford, compared to the two years following the previous revaluation.

This matches the pattern across England, which has seen a 97 per cent drop in queries.

Responding to the figures, Federation of Small Businesses national chairman Mike Cherry said: “These latest figures prove yet again that the Check, Challenge, Appeal system needs to be urgently reformed.

“Rolled out at the same time as 2017’s revaluation, the current CCA system forces time-pressed small firms, already having to deal with unfair revaluations, to try and navigate the complicated platform. Many simply don’t have the time or money to bring together a case using the overly complicated system, risking financial penalties if they challenge them.

“With the number of challenges registered by businesses in England dropping by 97 per cent since the system was launched, it’s clearly not working.”