THE man responsible for doubling many shopkeepers' business rates has defended his actions to a hostile audience.

Valuation officer David Jackson told a district council meeting he was doing his job by the book when he increased the rates of many shops, with Queens Road, in Buckhurst Hill, particularly badly affected.

At the Overview and Scrutiny meeting to discuss the increase Mr Jackson was told that Broomes newsagents, in Queens Road, had had such a large rate increase it was now classified as a large out-of-town shop.

Broomes owner Valerie Chung said: “It just feels economics has taken over and we just feel unfair pressure.”

Another Queens Road trader Stuart Brody said: “I've been on Queens Road for 27 years and seen a lot of change. We've seen a bad decline in the road. Nat West Bank's gone and other things happened. I think this is terrible that this is going on now. I think you will see a lot of businesses going within the next year or two.”

Buckhurst Hill district councillor Peter Spencer said the new rise had come about after one shop in Queens Road lost an appeal over its own rates.

He said: “Wouldn't natural justice say they've been paying for four years let's keep it the same in the fifth year and perhaps put it up next year when you've got the revaluation?”

Mr Jackson said: “I understand the problems. It wasn't an easy decision to make because I knew what the likely implications were going to be. However, it is my statutory duty to make sure that list is fair and it is fair to the people in Queens Road as well as High Street, Epping, etc.

“We're not trying to get the highest possible valuation we can. We're just trying to get an open market level of value, however painful that is.”

Mr Brody replied “I don't think you could get any more if you tried.”

Mr Jackson advised shopkeepers confused over the increase to visit BusinessLink.gov.uk.