Inverness car park leaves drivers furious as Highland tourist tax splits opinion
Scotland to follow Spain on housing?
Highland MSP Emma Roddick suggested Scotland could follow Spain in taking radical measures to tackle the housing crisis. The country’s Prime Minister has announced plans to prioritise available homes for residents, by imposing a tax of up to 100 per cent on properties bought by non-residents from outside the EU.
“I think this is an excellent idea.It is a pity that all governments do not follow this policy. There is an urgent need for houses that young people can afford to buy and local authority rented property where they may have greater security than in the private market.” - Violet Bent, Evanton
“This should be Alba's priority in winning over the Scottish people. The housing crisis is just that, a crisis with no end in sight of a solution.” - David Paterson, Kirkintilloch
“She is correct on this. We are facing an unprecedented level of people unable to find an affordable place to live especially in rural areas and the Highlands. It used to be a home was where you lived. Now, housing is seen as an asset to gain profit off by renting out properties or using them as holiday homes. Portfolios is an ugly word where housing is concerned. Landlords with multiple homes should be paying taxes that are raised for each property rented out.” - Marie Christie, Dunfermline
City centre car park leaves drivers furious
A furious motorist has vowed he will see the operators of the car park at Rose Street Retail Park in Inverness - Britannia Parking - in court, after it threatened legal action for non-payment, despite him sharing bank statements proving he had. Highland councillor Sean Kennedy also reported how he received a penalty after parking at the same car park on January 2, when he says the ticket machine was not working.
“I have a letter off this "Britannia Parking" on 02/01/25. I was two minutes over my time at Rose street, parking outside Smyths toy store/Starbucks. I have sent an appeal along with screen shot of me paying for the prior hour there. Guess not to expect a reply! I have since found out these companies are supposed to give a 10 minute grace period after paid parking has ran out. Hoping an actual human sees my appeal, maybe I will get a reply.” - Russell Beresford, Tain
“I can confirm that all machines at this car park were ‘out of order’ on January 2 this year. It's time Highland Council looked into Britannia Parkings' charging method. It will deter visitors from using this car park in the future, and possibly not returning to Inverness. Incidentally I too received a PCN, which I have appealed, but that will probably be dismissed by Britannia’s AI system.” - James Philip, Ayr
“I am a 64yr old female, I was doing a job in Inverness parked on Rose Street, parking for six days. They have three machines there, all three were out of order. I took photos of the out of order signs each day. I also tried to contact them on numerous occasions, no response. I now have six letters telling me I have to pay £100 on each letter. I am worried sick and don’t have this kind of money, I just don’t know what to do.” - Patricia Ryder, Munlochy
“I had the same experience (as Sean Kennedy) at the car park. Tried calling all of Britannia contacts numbers (16 times in one day) no answer. They have now handed it over to DCBL agency who have threatened legal action to recover the £170 . I too put in an appeal sending a photograph of the machines display 'Not in Service’. They sent an email back saying that due to not displaying a valid ticket the fine stood. I tried to contact them again by phone, still no reply. I have kept a record of all calls and the photo of the machine in case it goes to court. The town centre is starting to become a no go zone for drivers. The council should consider setting up a park and drive scheme - up by Caley Thistle ground would be ideal.” - John Smith, Inverness
Opinions remain divided on ‘tourist tax’ idea
Comments continued to flood in after a demonstration was staged against Highland Council proposals to introduce a new visitor levy.
“Highland Council have already destroyed many tourism business with their licensing scheme (which is poorly policed and unfairly disadvantaged small communities). This latest scheme which hits the responsible visitors and ignores the issues brought by the NC 500 is another nail in the coffin for many small businesses - whether it be the potentially having to report profits 12 times more often than HMRC require, having to split their offering to exclude non bed segments (we will all have to become B & optional B to comply with ridiculous proposed rules) or the fear of small business falling into VAT territory and having to pay multiple additional taxes - no small business can afford the accountancy fees to manage this nonsense and Highland council once again show no understanding of the taxpayers they are gouging.” - Dave McBain, Lochinver
“I cannot understand the problem. Having travelled the world I have paid the equivalent of a tourist tax everywhere. We are just home from Rome, €7 each per night. New York and everywhere in USA $$$. Florida was $50 a night resort tax. At no point did it stop me, nor anyone else going abroad. Our roads are dire, Scotland has closed more public toilets than anywhere else in the UK, we need decent infrastructure to keep attracting tourists, so use the tax on this and only this. Incidentally, we need to also tax the huge menace of camper vans, wrecking small communities and spending nothing, as do the tour ships. ” - Julie, Inverness
“Yes to the levy. It is paid by tourists not the businesses. I have paid it in Amsterdam and they levy the highest % in Europe. It does not put visitors off !!!!!!” - Halnka Rands, Drumnadrochit
“No mention in your article whether the effect the Visitor Levy would have on local people who have to travel and stay overnight for hospital appointments. The lack of public transport services mean that getting to and from Raigmore in one day is impossible and we therefore must stay overnight (summer appointments mean a very high overnight cost). NHS give a small reimbursement but that doesn't cover the cost. Now we are expected to pay five per cent on top of that. We already pay council tax. The wording Highland Council uses does imply it is a done deal.” - Lis Robertson, Duror
“The perfect storm. After being hit by lockdown, the short term lets licencing fee, and now the possibility of the Tourist Levy, many hosts in the Highlands will have come to the end of the road on their hosting journey, and lose their livelihoods. In the meantime we will see an increase in motorised vehicles 'wild camping', and disposing of waste, in our passing places, or view points. My friend who is a locum emergency doctor will now have to pay TAX (because that's what it is), on her stay at her hotel, as the doctor's accommodation is often full. This proposal must be reworked, revised, or reversed!” - Anita Larson, Airbnb host Community Leader, for Scotland and The Highlands and Islands
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