Calderdale stays could get more expensive as Government confirms 'tourist tax'
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead!
Well, today is Budget day and after weeks of speculation, we’ll finally find out what the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has in store for us.
Reports suggest she’s keen to tackle the ongoing cost of living crisis although she has admitted to parliamentary colleagues that they might not like everything in her lunchtime announcement today.
None of us are keen on tax rises but one new ‘tax’ the Government is allowing is a so-called tourism levy on overnight stays.
Metro mayors, including our very own Tracy Brabin, are being given powers to introduce the levy, which is quite common in other countries and would require tourists to pay a small nightly fee on top of their hotel room costs.
We’ve got full details of what it means - and the concern about how it might hit businesses locally - below.
Don’t forget you can get in touch with me if you have any story tip, comments or observations via email at calderdale@thelead.uk.
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So, on with the news…
Calderdale Digest
⚠️Funding of £500,000 has been allocated by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) for a flooding alleviation scheme.
The Erringden Hillside scheme is close to, but not part of, a major multi-million pound project for Hebden Bridge, which is the subject of a controversial separate planning application.
WYCA’s grant for the Erringden scheme has been allocated for 2025-26 to support progress of a Rochdale Canal overflow system, with work to start next year, flooding partners were told.
In all the aims is for around 60 properties to be better protected by the scheme.
More than 50 homeowner agreements have been signed and returned, enabling property flood resilience installations to take place as part of the scheme.
Company Watertight International has started fitting these and, along with the Environment Agency (EA), is talking to owners and occupiers of outstanding properties so they can be booked in for the work, Calderdale Flood Recovery and Resilience Programme Board heard.
Landowners in the area have been alerted to the flooding partners’ landowner grant scheme to develop natural flood management – techniques such as leaky dams, tree planting and more.
Already finished are road surface water interventions at Palace House Road, Shelf Road, Horsehold/New Road and Hebble End, Hebden Bridge, all designed to reduce water run-off to the town below, board members were told.
🧷The Sex Pistols will celebrate 50 years of punk with a show at Halifax’s Piece Hall next summer.
The group, who are currently fronted by Frank Carter, were among the latest acts to be announced for the TK Maxx Presents Live at The Piece Hall series.
CMAT, Bastille and Royel Otis have also announced shows at the venue.
For more information and ticket details, click here.
Concerns over how new tourism ‘levy’ could hit Calderdale businesses
By Chris Young
A new tourism levy has been welcomed by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin – but there are concerns that it could hit the finances of many local businesses.
On Tuesday, the Government announced that Mayors across the UK will get new powers to introduce a charge on overnight stays. They would be able to use money raised from the so-called tourism levy to invest in transport, infrastructure and the visitor economy.
Earlier this year Ms Brabin was one of several metro mayors to write to Government calling for such a levy.
A recent report by West Yorkshire Combined Authority said the levy could “fund interventions to support the visitor economy, including culture and sport activities, sector support activities, and marketing campaigns.”
A statement from Government today said: “The fee would apply to visitors’ overnight trips, and it would be up to mayors and other local leaders to introduce a modest charge if it’s right for their area.
“The move would ensure UK mayors have the same powers as their counterparts in cities like New York, Paris and Milan, where charges on short-term trips are already commonplace.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed said: “Tourists travel from near and far to visit England’s brilliant cities and regions.
“We’re giving our mayors powers to harness this and put more money into local priorities, so they can keep driving growth and investing in these communities for years to come.”
Following the announcement Ms Brabin said: “I’m delighted the government has heard the strong case Mayors have made for the power to ask visitors to pay a small fee to help drive growth.
“This will allow us to invest more into making our regions even better places to visit, unlocking opportunities and help our businesses thrive.
“This is a further vote of confidence in devolution and shows the government is backing mayors to achieve our ambitions.”
But the news has not been universally welcomed.
Mark Casci, Head of Policy and Representation at the North and West Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Businesses in Yorkshire are already facing an eye-watering level of taxation.
“Firms, most notably those involved in hospitality, are massively struggling with overheads. There will be real concern that any further pressure on consumers in the form of a levy will have on businesses’ day-to-day revenues.
“Were such a levy to be considered in West Yorkshire, we would like to see clear details of what these revenues would be used for and how they would be used to benefit the region’s economy.”
That’s it for this edition, thanks for reading.
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Until Sunday, have a great week…
Andrew