A HOLIDAY park owner has hit out at comments made by a county council Cabinet member about plans for a second-home tax.

Thomas Scarrott, of the Clarach Bay Holiday Village, was featured in the Cambrian News last month heavily criticising a planned 25 per cent premium, which he claimed would affect tourism and trade for local businesses.

During a later TV interview, finance boss Dafydd Edwards said the authority could have introduced an even bigger premium and added: “We did have the option from 0 to 100 per cent. We took that into consideration and were hoping the 25 per cent additional charge wouldn’t adversely affect the number of holidaymakers coming in to the area. I can well imagine that they are considering [leaving the area] but I would hope they come to the conclusion that it’s worth the additional expense in order to come to this lovely part of the country.”

A shocked Mr Scarrott, who e-mailed his concerns to Cllr Edwards, said: “In other words, it is a tax on tourism. The official reason before was that they’re looking to address the housing issue, but now they’re saying the premium is a worthwhile price to visit this area."

But in his response Cllr Edwards said the council’s budgetary problems meant the increase in income was vital.

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