New 'tourist tax' threatens future of seaside town

SALCOMBE is facing a major dilemma as local business owners report concerns over a council-imposed 'tourist tax'.

- by STAFF REPORTERS

The 'Chelsea-on-Sea' coastal town in the South Hams, where around 60% of its properties are second homes, already demands double council tax from those with more than one property.

Now, they are being targeted with a new differential parking scheme. Under South Hams District Council's latest parking scheme, tourists may need to shell out up to £10 for day parking, while locals benefit from an annual permit that allows parking for £8 a day.

This has left many fearing the extra charges will deter visitors, and some observed a quieter than usual Easter holiday period.

Local business owner Beck Gordon, of Salcombe Yawl cafe and Norman's Fishmonger, expressed her frustration, saying: “It's a can of worms. I don’t even know where to start.”

Reflecting on the town’s reliance on tourism, she added: “In an ideal world, we'd have far more locals living here than second homes and the kids would be able to afford to stay here and everything else, but in reality, the town needs the tourism because it has become what it is and these businesses only survive because we've got tourism here.

“I've noticed that kind of second home dynamic is changing and there are more families on holiday than there are people with second homes.”

Local business owners are expressing concern over the noticeable downturn in visitor numbers, with parking issues at the forefront of the problem.

One commented: “It’s quieter generally. The parking’s definitely an issue. It was only yesterday I had guys in here talking about parking charges and how it’s really hard to make the machines work. It’s all just reasons not to come, isn’t it?”

Speaking on the impact on local tourism, they added: “In terms of day trippers, if you talk about more local people, they definitely don’t come anymore.