* Sam Rowlands, left, on a visit to Llangollen Railway.
Sam
Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has hit out at "unfair" rules which affect the tourism industry in his region.
Opening the Welsh
Conservative debate: Business rates for self-catering accommodation, Mr Rowlands,
Shadow Minister for Local Government, said the debate was about the confusion
and unfairness of the implementation of the 182-day Order.
He said: “From
April 1 2023, evidence must be provided that a property has been made available
to let for at least 252 days, and actually let for at least 182 days.
"However, the Valuation Office Agency's assessment will be based on records for
the 12 months prior to this date, meaning self-catering businesses will be and
have been assessed on the new regulations coming into force in 2023, dating
back to 2022.
“It is
extremely unfair and unreasonable to assess and judge self-catering
accommodation on the old rules when the new rules come into place next April.
This could lead to detrimental impacts on the tourism sector and is causing
confusion in the sector, a sector which is so important to our economy and to
our local communities.
“The
Government state they've consulted widely. However, I find it difficult to
fully accept, as the self-catering accommodation sector and leading figures in
the tourism sector, in my capacity as chairman of the Senedd cross-party group
on tourism, have outlined their sheer confusion, anger and frustration
regarding the implementation of this Order.
“I
believe that Welsh Government should reflect on the serious concerns expressed
by self-catering accommodation providers across Wales regarding the assessment
period for determining this eligibility.”
“We know,
the prime reason for these regulations being brought in was to differentiate
between second homes and legitimate self-catering holiday accommodation
However, with the criteria being assessed this year, before those rules are in
place, before those regulations actually come into force, we will see a skewed
set of results, as self-catering accommodation have not been given the proper
time to plan, adjust their business plans and ensure their businesses are
geared up for this change. So, it will not achieve what the Government are
seeking to achieve.”
