RMI Petrol has been keeping up the pressure over Business Rates by asking

MPs to support the independent petrol retailing sector, including Conservative MP Justine Greening, Shadow Minister for London. The organisation’s chairman Brian Madderson

contacted the MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields regarding the controversial rates revaluation, calling for her support over the matter.

The letter stated that fellow Conservative MP Philip Dunne, who has been leading the challenge in Westminster against the rating assessments by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) for independent filling stations, had suggested RMI Petrol get in touch with the key shadow ministers to apprise them of the present situation.

The letter included a proposal that stated: "that the government taking office after the General Election should ensure that the local authorities do not exceed the 11% maximum increase for Business Rates after transitional relief, as pledged by Barbara Follett MP for the DCLG. This request specifically applies to the petrol filling station property sector where many small rural sites are highly vulnerable to significant above inflation cost increases."

He also asked that any payments already made above the 11% should be immediately refunded.

Meanwhile, RMI Petrol has appointed Barber Wadlow as ratings advisers to assist in its continued challenge against the VOA’s 2010 Revaluation Scheme.

It said Barber Wadlow, a property advisory firm dedicated to the specialist fuel and automotive retailing sectors, had in depth knowledge of the sector. Madderson added: "We are pleased that the team at Barber Wadlow is behind us in our challenge to the VOA. It is quite wrong for our members to be threatened by an unfair and anti-competitive rates system. How can a local standalone shop be rated on a square footage basis when a petrol forecourt shop is rated on a percentage of turnover basis?"