SMALL businesses form the economic and social backbone of towns across Wales, and Barry is no exception.

They provide employment, enhance community networks and give our High Streets, and thus our towns, their unique character.

We are rapidly approaching the annual day when we celebrate small businesses and encourage everyone to use them.

This year’s Small Business Saturday will take place on December 3 and I encourage everyone in Barry to take the opportunity to take a Christmas Shopping trip to Holton Road, High Street or your local parade of shops.

We cannot afford to be complacent about preserving our High Streets, and as well as your support as shoppers they need support from government.

As you may be aware, many small businesses in the Vale are likely to see their costs go up as a result of the periodic revaluation of business rates.

Business rates policy is devolved to the Welsh Government, but I have long supported Welsh Conservative calls for higher rate relief thresholds, effectively a tax cut, for small businesses.

The impending rate increase as a result of re-valuation and the imminent arrival of a generous rate-relief package for small business in England means that action must be taken urgently.

From April onwards in England small businesses with a rateable value under £12,000 will get 100 per cent relief, effectively exempting them from rates, and those with a rateable value between £12,000 and £15,000 will receive tapered relief.

If this were to apply in Wales, many businesses in Barry currently struggling with rates would pay none at all and many others would qualify for relief for the first time.

A business such as the well-loved Ruckley’s parenting shop on Holton Road, which will pay business rates of £4,000 in 2017-18 here in Wales, would pay absolutely nothing across the border in England.

This year, as we approach Christmas, please remember our small businesses for your seasonal shopping, hair styling and eating.

I’m sure you will know personally many of the small traders who keep the heart of our town beating, and work so hard in the community.

They face a struggle in comparison to businesses elsewhere in the UK through no fault of their own. Let’s show them extra support this year as well as demanding that the Welsh Government improve its rate relief scheme.

Shop local this Saturday.