THE owners of one of Helensburgh's best known stores have hit out ahead of the election on Thursday with demands for better support for business.

Karen Forret from Wilkies said while English independent retailers have benefitted from 75 per cent rates relief for the past two years, the SNP in Scotland have not offered that help.

Ms Forret, the managing director of the firm, which has six stores across Scotland, is also a member director of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA).

She said Scottish communities, high streets and independent shops "have been grossly let down" by the SNP.

The business ran into financial difficulties in 2023 and announced the appointment of administrators.

Six of the firm's stores, including Helensburgh, were then sold to a new company, Wilkies Trading, and were kept open, with 55 jobs saved as a result.

The company also retained its stores in Largs, Castle Douglas, Peebles, Perth and Ballater.

But the stores in Edinburgh, North Berwick, Hamilton, Falkirk and Kirkcaldy were closed.

Ms Forret said: "Our high streets play a critical part in our communities, and we need the continuing support for independents to be emphasised to leaders of all parties.

"They play a critical role in our local economies and job market.

"We are now a year in after closing six stores and although we closed loss making stores continuing to invest in the Scottish high streets is not easy despite or passion and commitment.

"We are however not ready to give up the fight, but we need SNP to show some commitment.

"Tourism is vital to Scotland and what attraction is there if our high streets are empty?”

Ms Forret said the landlord of the company's Perth shop was selling, and many commercial premises in the country were being sold or were up for sale.

She said there needed to be an incentive for businesses to take on empty units with help from rates.

She said that would "protect the high streets" and Scottish real estate "which has been massively devalued in recent years".

Andrew Goodacre, director of BIRA, said: "This week we finally go to the polls to choose a new government. From BIRA’s perspective, our priorities for the new government do not change, irrespective of who wins.

"We simply want a government that believes in the value of independent retailers."

The Advertiser has approached all six candidates for Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber for comment.

Alan Reid, the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate, said: "It's a disgrace that the SNP charge high street shops far more in rates than similar shops in England have to pay. No wonder so many high street shops in Scotland are empty."

Melanie Hurst, the Reform UK candidate, said their policies include scrapping VAT on energy and lifting corporation tax minimum profit threshold to £150,000.

She said: "For sole traders we would abolish IR35. Lifting the VAT threshold to £150,000 will free businesses from the restraints of the current system, putting more money back into the economy, increasing productivity and generating more jobs.

"Reform is the only party promising to reduce taxes to stimulate much needed growth and ease the cost of living and housing crises."