CRUSADING shopkeeper Paul Barwick claims he has been flooded with support for his stand against rates in Dorchester. Mr Barwick warned of a rates revolution with businesses and householders refusing to pay unless they received value for money.

Now he is to launch a petition calling for an investigation into the level and use of money from domestic and commercial rates. His campaign comes after three businesses warned they may close or re-locate from Dorchester because of a downturn in trade and high rents and rates costs.

Mr Barwick, who runs Harmony Music in the Forum Centre, said: "There's been an amazing response. Support

"The phone hasn't stopped ringing. I've had domestic and non-domestic rate payers come up to me in the street, phone up and visit the shop to pledge their support.

"The authorities want to get their act together. We want to know what the money is spent on. If shops in the middle of town stop paying, what do we lose?"

The government and Inland Revenue's valuation office decide the amount charged for business rates, but the money is collected by West Dorset District Council.

The council sends the money to central government which then redistributes it depending on a formula based on the population size.

The council has vowed to do all it can to help businesses in the town - from promotions and studies to marketing strategies. A spokesman added that business rate money comes back to the council in its revenue support grant and is spent on such services as street cleaning, refuse collection, leisure centre management and environmental health matters.

He added that the council is 'very proactive' in offering rate relief and that businesses can appeal directly to the valuation office over rate settings.

Mr Barwick said: "There is an EU directive which means we are entitled to know where our money is spent and what element is spent on you. I intend to use this. It's time for action. I'm not an easy walkover."

He added that some businesses were being forced to burn cardboard because it was not being taken away by refuse collectors.