A play café in Weymouth town centre which has only been open for three months may have to close because of soaring business rates.

Kathryn Schofield, owner of Jigsaw Play Café in St Mary Street, claims she has been incorrectly overcharged for business rates since she opened the business in September.

Ms Schofield said she is being charged more than £2,000 per month, which adds up to more than her rent plus the wages of the two people she employs.

“The monthly amount they are asking for is ludicrous and unaffordable to even the most established of businesses let alone a brand-new small café,” she said.

She fears she may have to close the café as she cannot afford the money being demanded of her.

Ms Schofield said: “The café is a central place in the town for mums, dads and grandparents to bring their children and is a valuable service to the community with such a convenient location. If anything the council should be helping me be able to remain open.

“Instead they are slamming me with business rates and now I might have to close.

“It has made me really anxious and stressed and I don’t need that kind of extra pressure on me when I am just starting out in this new venture.”

She claimed she has been incorrectly charged for things she does not have, including; a second floor, a full air conditioning system, outside seating and a second serving hatch.

In addition to this, she says her business is being classing as a shop instead of a café, which is part of the reason why the business rates are so high.

The Valuation Office Agency is responsible for setting rates and the borough council is charged with collecting them.

Ms Schofield said: “I’ve only been open for three months and they seem to be quite happy for me to close. They don’t care about people, the community or town, they just want their money.

“If someone from the Valuation Office Agency actually came out to the premises, they would see that I’m being incorrectly charged but apparently they take six months to resolve cases and I can’t wait that long. The whole system is a shambles.”

She has since contacted an independent agency that specialises in business rates. This agency has told Ms Schofield that her rateable value is massively incorrect and that they should be able to get it at least halved.

She said: “I would rather pay this company £1,400 to sort it out than give all that money to the council.”

Cllr Jeff Cant, Leader of Weymouth & Portland Borough Council and Briefholder for Finance and Assets, said: “We are very sympathetic to the challenges facing retail business owners with the growth of online trading and the decline of many high streets and we know this is something under national review. "However at the present moment once the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) - a Government agency – sets the business rates we have a statutory obligation to collect them.

“Businesses have the opportunity to appeal the valuations, initially with the VOA and ultimately through the Valuation Tribunal Service. In this case we understand discussions are ongoing with VOA so we have allowed the owner extra time before further action is taken.”

A VOA spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on individual cases. If a ratepayer does not agree with our valuation after they have checked and challenged it, they can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for an independent review.”