RIBBLE Valley businesses have been offered a ray of hope by a council for some relief in their business rates payments as the foot and mouth crisis continues.

Depending on individual circumstances, the rate of relief could be either a deferment in payment to a later date, or, for businesses which have been severely affected, a discount on the rates they pay under a criteria which the Government has put together.

At a meeting of the Ribble Valley policy and finance committee, director of legal services Marshal Scott said the package the Government has announced was not clear in some areas as circumstances were changing daily, but in general it was designed to assist business which had experienced some degree of hardship during the present outbreak.

The four areas in which businesses both directly and indirectly linked to agriculture could receive help are: to defer payment of rates, seek reduction is rateable value, extend the village shop rate relief scheme and extend the hardship relief scheme.

Mr Scott said businesses already considering appeals to the district valuation office against their business rate valuation will have an additional period of three months, from March 31, to lodge them.

In addition, businesses can ask the district valuer for a temporary reduction on the grounds that the foot and mouth crisis has affected the physical state of the property and/or its locality.

Under the village shop rate relief scheme, the sole post office or general store in rural areas with populations of 3,000 or less are currently entitled to a 50 per cent mandatory relief - the rateable value limit being £6,000.

Further legislation may be brought in to extend the village shop rate relief scheme, again 50 per cent mandatory relief, to certain sole pubs and petrol filling stations in rural areas which have rateable values of £9,000 or below.