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Grants of up to £100,000 made available to boost Cornish High Streets

7 Nov 2023

Communities across Cornwall can now apply for grants of up to £100,000 to improve High Streets, the council has said.
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Warwickshire County Council launches campaign to promote Christmas shopping at independent businesses

6 Nov 2023

A Christmas campaign encouraging Warwickshire’s independent town businesses to shout about why shoppers should buy from them this year is making a comeback.
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The Times names prettiest towns for indie Christmas shopping

6 Nov 2023

With just over six weeks until Christmas, The Times has named what it says are the seven prettiest towns in the UK for Christmas shopping, making special mention of the presence of independent... Read more…

Cardmitment campaign launched to remind people of the power of sending greetings cards

23 Oct 2023

Cardmitment campaign launched to remind people of the power of sending greetings cards
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New guides welcome on how to make shops more accessible for the elderly

23 Oct 2023

The International Longevity Centre has released new guides to show the steps retailers need to take to make their shops more accessible for the elderly.
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Bristol sandwich shop named best in the UK

23 Oct 2023

Family-run Bristol sandwich shop Sandwich Sandwich has been named best in the UK at the UberEats awards.
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Convenience stores to trial UK’s first digital proof of age card

23 Oct 2023

Convenience stores are set to be part of a testing programme for the UK’s first digital proof of age card.
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Police deploying facial recognition technology to target shoplifters and other retail criminals

23 Oct 2023

“Game-changing” facial recognition technology is targeting prolific retail criminals, including shoplifters.
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Prime Minister's Funding Injection for Left-Behind Towns Welcomed by Bira

10 Oct 2023

British Independent Retail Association (Bira) acknowledges the Government's investment in towns across the UK.
 
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Indie retailers say policing minister’s citizen’s arrest solution to retail crime is ‘high risk’

9 Oct 2023

Policing minister Chris Philp has encouraged shop workers to make ‘citizen’s arrests’ on shoplifters, a message branded as ‘dangerous and irresponsible’  by... Read more…

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Portugal becomes first EU country to cut VAT on bicycle purchases this year

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

Portugal has become the first EU country to cut VAT on bicycle purchases this year, from 23% to 6%.

Cyling on bridge

The move comes 12 months after new EU legislation permitted such changes, and Portugal sees it as part of a bid to boost cycling to 10% of all trips by 2030. The European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) estimates customers will save up to €300 on a €2000 ebike if retailers and suppliers pass savings on to customers.

The move is a major advocacy success for ECF’s Portuguese member organisations, together with the country’s bicycle industry association ABIMOTA. For MUBi, which advocates, encourages, and demonstrate the benefits of urban cycling, it was one of six priority points for their campaign on cycling-friendly measures.

Rui Igreja from MUBi said: “We are very happy that, after dozens of meetings, the Portuguese Parliament has listened to MUBi’s arguments for reduced VAT rate on bicycles. The reduction from 23% to 6% will make pedelecs and cargo bikes more accessible. These have a high potential to substitute daily car trips, but their high price tag has been an obstacle to their adoption in Portugal. The yearly cost of this measure will be lower than what the current duty reduction on road fossil fuels costs per week. Besides, unlike motorised vehicles, cycling generates significant positive externalities, namely in terms of public health, which largely outweigh the costs of the VAT reduction.”

At a European level, the potential to reduce VAT rates on supply, rental and repair of bicycles, including e-bikes, was opened when the corresponding legislation entered into force in April 2022. ECF had advocated for this possibility in a joint campaign together with the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI), and supported by Cycling Industries Europe (CIE). After the change in the legislation, the three organisations together supported their respective members in their national advocacy efforts, which now have borne fruit for the first time.

The cycling sector now looks to other EU countries joining Portugal in making bicycles more accessible for citizens through VAT reductions.

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