LOCALS living in a seaside village dubbed ‘Grumpy-On-Sea’ have revealed they now want to start charging tourists for visiting.
The picturesque spot is one of many in Norfolk where residents have decided to take matters into their own hands after second homeowners started driving them out.
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But now Blakeney has made a name for itself due to the locals’ attitude towards holidaymakers.
Those living in the coastal spot want to start charging a tourist tax similar to Paris – and are thinking £1 a night on the likes of Airbnb and other accommodation companies would work well.
The locals say this would bring some cashflow into the community – rather than second-home owners’ pockets – as they claim some holidaymakers don’t even spend money in the town.
It comes amid growing concerns about the number of holiday lets and second homes at one of the country’s most popular destinations.
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Towns and villages in the area have already imposed kerbs following public votes, such as limiting newbuilds to those using them to live in.
Gail Cornwall, who lives in the neighbouring village of Cley – where there is also a second-home holiday-let invasion, is one of the many who wants to see a change.
The Blakeney-born woman, who works in the village shop, told The Sun: “A tax on tourists and holidaymakers would be a good thing as long as it goes back into the local community to help pay for things like the playing field, car parks and road repairs.
“It’s very sad that many of the second-home owners contribute nothing to the village, they don’t want to integrate and the holidaymakers that come are just passing through.
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“They don’t shop much in the village either – the place is full of Waitrose and Sainsbury’s vans delivering stuff to the holiday homes.”
Gail said she’d never in her life seen so many people on holiday in the town – and it’s taking its toll.
She continued: “In one small street alone there are eight holiday lets and in the middle of winter the place looks deserted – the streets are dark and there are no lights on in the houses.
“The main problem is that our own children and grandchildren can’t afford to live here now.
“Most of the bigger houses now sell for more than a million pounds and prices are still going through the roof.”
The leader of North Norfolk district councillor Tim Adams is also backing calls for a tourist tax.
He said: “Fourty-per-cent of the property in Blakeney is used for holiday lets or as a second home.
“But a lot of second-homes are not paying for local services – we don’t want to put off tourists but there has to be some kind of levelling up.
“Councils like ours need their income from rates to provide services but if people like holidaymakers stay in temporary accommodation.
“A modest levy of just £1 a night on holiday lets and b&bs would help a great deal. But people letting out their houses as a business should pay business rates on the property.”
A heap of towns in the area have already started to try to make a change to future-proof their community’s survival.
They say the second homes are pushing locals out as they’re driving house prices up so high.
And as a result, second homes have already been banned in the likes of Sedgeford and Snettisham.
Last month Old Hunstanton and Wells were planning to get a public vote to ask if they want to crack down on the invasion of outsiders, too.
But not everyone thinks the tax is a good idea – including Fish and chip shop owner Willy Weston.
Willy said: “Visitors keep my business going – we get a lot of trade from second-home owners and holidaymakers.
“They also help support the village deli – not everyone has food delivered by supermarkets.
“We need the rich to keep this village alive and to help us make a living. We have four small cottages opposite the chip shop and the people who stay there are always good customers.”
Resident Alan Donohoe echoed Willy’s view.
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He said: “The dilemma is that this village relies on visitors and tourists to survive. We have got two hotels, a couple of pubs, a coffee, shop, deli and gift shop which all rely on visitors.
“The council has flogged off most of its housing stock over the years but luckily for the village there is a housing association that has 40 small homes and cottages which are only let out to villagers – without that there would be no affordable places to live for locals.”
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
