‘WRECKING BALL TO TOURISM ECONOMY’
THE DECISION to double the council tax rate on second homes in Gwynedd has been described by one Tory politician as “taking a wrecking ball through the county’s visitor economy”.
Charlie Evans, planning to stand in Dwyfor Meirionnydd for May’s Senedd election, said: “The council has voted for a proposal that’s going to take a wrecking ball through Gwynedd’s visitor economy.
“The indirect benefits that businesses get and the jobs that are dependent on it have been completely ignored. The politics of nationalism has trumped good policymaking.
“Already I have had many business owners reach out to me to tell me of their real anxiety and dismay over this decision. This decision is just a cover-up for a lack of meaningful action taken on housing over a number of years.”
But Mabon ap Gwynfor, who’ll be competing against Mr Evans, backed the actions of party colleagues on the Plaid Cymru-run authority.
“We are facing a housing crisis and the stark truth is that communities are being hollowed out and young people can’t afford to buy homes in their own communities,” said Cllr ap Gwynfor.
“Some communities have up to 60% of their housing stock that are empty for much of the year. This is completely unsustainable. Gwynedd has taken the correct decision to take action to protect our communities with the limited powers at their disposal, and force the Welsh Government to take this seriously.
“Legitimate holiday businesses will benefit as people wanting to holiday here will pay for their accommodation in official holiday lets.
Cllrs Glyn Daniels and Peter Read, planning to stand in Dwyfor Meirionnydd for Llais Gwynedd and Propel respectively, both backed the proposals.
But Liberal Democrat Cllr Stephen Churchman, also contesting May’s Senedd Election, backed an amendment by Labour’s Sion Jones to keep the premium at 50% after fears were raised it would lead to even more second home owners “flipping” to non-domestic rates and slashing the income generated as a result.
Labour’s Cian Ireland said he backed the increase in the premium despite the intervention of his party colleague, Cllr Sion Jones.