Retail and business groups welcomed the 12 months rates holiday but say the Welsh Government must now let all shops reopen at the next review date.
Welsh Government has announced a year long rates holiday for the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors in Wales following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget.
The sectors have been closed since December 20 and last month footfall was down 75% on last year - with only supermarkets and other ‘essential’ stores open.
Sara Jones, head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, welcomed the rates move but urged the government to allow them to open at the March 12 review.
She said: “The Finance Minister has clearly listened to our representations and has responded positively to remove the burden of business rates for most retailers for the next twelve months.
"This is a big, bold and timely boost for the sector, much of which remains closed and faces an uncertain future without as yet an indicative date for reopening and with mounting cost pressures.”
She added: “As we move towards an easing of lockdown, we implore the Welsh Government to allow us to re-open safely from the next review date.
"The line of what is deemed as essential and non-essential is becoming increasingly blurred the longer we remain in lockdown, and it’s time to allow consumers the opportunity shop safely in store once more.
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"Welsh retail can be a key part of Wales’s economic recovery, but we need a route out, one which gives us a date for re-opening and which provides ongoing support through business rate relief for the next 12 months”.
Ben Francis, FSB Wales Policy Chair, said: “Businesses in Wales will be delighted that Welsh Government has listened to campaigning from FSB and extended the business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure firms for another year and we very much welcome this response from the Government.”