This in from Andrew Turner’s office, in their own words. Ed
Very good news for holiday park owners on the Isle of Wight, was the Government announcement this week that static caravans will only be charged VAT at 5% rather than the 20% originally planned by the coalition Government and announced for consultation, and this new rate will be deferred from October to April next year.
The Island’s MP, Andrew Turner, met with representatives of many of the Island’s holiday parks at the Riverside Centre, Newport, earlier in the month.
Concerns over hike in VAT
They expressed grave concern at the implications of this planned hike in VAT, not only for the Island’s tourism industry but also local businesses and the inevitable job losses that would inevitably happen.
He followed up the meeting by writing to the Chancellor, George Osborne MP, conveying these very real concerns.
Petition taken to Parliament
Following the meeting Mr Turner accepted a petition from Park Homes Phil de Beer and Simon Spinney, which he presented at the House of Commons last Tuesday (22nd May) along with over 30 other MPs who presented similar petitions from their own constituents.
Mr. Turner commented on the announcement, “This is a great improvement on the original proposal and the Chancellor has obviously listened to representations from the Isle of Wight and across the country. After meeting the representatives of the Island’s holiday parks I was convinced that a VAT rate of 20% would adversely affect the Island’s economy and I thank them for taking the time to come and see me about the issue.”
Image: Dinas Caravan Camping under CC BY 2.0
