PEOPLE will get the chance to listen to advice, share their problems and put their questions to experts in a series of public meetings on 'surviving the credit crunch', organised by South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt.

A meeting, led by Mr Hunt, will be held in each of the three towns in South West Surrey, with guest speakers from the Citizens Advice Bureau, Waverley Borough Council and an energy saving organisation.

The Haslemere meeting will be held on Thursday, November 27, from 6pm to 7pm at the town's educational museum.

Mr Hunt said: "Anyone worried about the credit crunch should try to get to one of the meetings. 

"We will have some experts who can give good advice and a forum for people to share their concerns. 

"There is help out there, but too many people aren't aware what they are entitled to, so I am particularly pleased that the CAB and Waverley have agreed to be involved."

Traders Forum

JEREMY Hunt MP will also hold a private meeting for traders of Haslemere, Godalming and Farnham next month, for a discussion on how to combat the economic downturn.

As part of Mr Hunt's 'Fight the Credit Crunch' campaign, Haslemere Chamber of Trade have been invited, alongside chambers from Waverley's two other major towns.

The meeting will take place at an undisclosed venue in Godalming, on November 14.

Traders will use the discussion to update Mr Hunt on the affects of the downturn in their respective areas.

Mr Hunt said: "Local businesses are especially vulnerable because of the high-cost base locally.

Waverley [Borough Council] have started the process by teaming up with the CAB, and I want to do what I can to identify where the biggest areas of risk are and how we can spread the word about sensible ways to deal with the challenges ahead."

Small Business Rate Relief

MR Hunt is urging small shops in the region to save money by claiming Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR).

As part of his 'Fight the Credit Crunch' campaign, Mr Hunt wants to make sure small businesses are aware of a simple, online tool to help firms check their eligibility for the relief.

smallshops where, if a business is eligible, people can download a form and send it to Waverley Borough Council.

Properties with a rateable value of less than £5,000 can get 50 per cent rate relief on their liability.

Mr Hunt said: "Our shops and businesses are facing tough times but they are the life blood of our economy and our community. This new online tool is a simple way to help firms survive.

"Roughly half of eligible businesses do not claim the relief, and the reason is that many of them simply don't know it exists. Yet it could save local shops up to £1,100 per annum."

SBRR came into effect on April 1, 2005, and is funded by larger business rate-payers.

The relief is available for ratepayers who either:

* Have one property and are not in receipt of any other relief.

* Have one main property, not in receipt of any other relief and other additional properties with values of less than £2,200, to a total value £15,000 outside London (or £21,500 inside London).

Ratepayers have until September 30, 2010, to apply for rate relief covering the years of 2007 to 2008.