Mark Garnier, Conservative parliamentary Spokesman for Wyre Forest, today added his name to the growing number of people dismayed at the Government's plans to tax hotels and B&Bs - a measure that will directly affect Wyre Forest's tourist industry.
The Government has commissioned former labour councillor Sir Michael Lyons to produce a report on reforms to local government finance by the end of 2006. In his interim report late last year, he declared he was interested in introducing a new hotel tax - to go on top of existing business rates and on top of VAT on hotel bills.
The hospitality industry is running a campaign against this new tax and local Conservative MPs have already added their name to a Commons motion calling for any consideration of the proposals to be abandoned.
Sir Michael Lyons's proposals are for a 10% 'bed tax' to be levied on all hotel and B&B stays. Early estimates say this will increase the average cost of a week's family holiday in the UK by £100. Faced with these increases, visitors to Wyre Forest will immediately have less to spend on local facilities and amenities, whilst foreign visitors may be put off visiting England at all.
Commenting, Mark Garnier said: "The Government is getting more and more devious with its stealth taxes. Implementing this tax will not be seen by locals until it is too late. On the face of it, no Wyre Forest resident will see the tax increase. But after time, as visitor spend goes down, and hotel stays drop off, the effect on the local economy will start to bite with restaurants and B&Bs hit first.
"I worry that the whole of Wyre Forest will be hit by this, but I am particularly concerned for Bewdley which is struggling to resuscitate its tourist industry after years of problems brought about by the flood defense works causing endless parking and image problems. I speak to many traders in the town and I hope that this is not the last straw for Bewdley. Yet again, it is local people and businesses being asked to cough up to pay for Government incompetence and mismanagement."