helping the Scottish Gov & Edinburgh council understand that the selfcatering accommodation legislation is flawed and disproportionate (particularly Edinburgh)
The Scottish Government are determined to open a drug consumption facility in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town - we only have until July 1st to lodge our objections or comments. Neither site is suitable for the chaos that inevitably unfold!
Everybody is outraged over 400k being embezzled but why has there been no further inquiry into the 400 million pounds of Taxpayers money invested into the failed Greensill Capital group After the undocumented Gupta/ Greensill meeting with Fergus Ewing & Nicola Sturgeon in 2017?
Scotland’s policy debate has become absurd.
“Self-catering” = good.
“Short-term lets” = bad.
Yet in most cases they are the EXACT same properties.
The same Highland cottage.
The same family-run flat.
The same rural business supporting local jobs and tourism.
One label is praised. The other politicised.
We urgently need evidence-led policymaking, not headline-led scapegoating.
Today, @ASSCnews submitted a new briefing to MSPs calling for fairer regulation, Visitor Levy reform, and recognition of the vital role Scotland’s self-catering sector plays in communities and the economy.
Read more: https://t.co/3jouHkMkMY
@st_alliance@scothospgroup
Less than 1% of all Scotland's 2.74 million homes are used as full time holiday lets. We need #SelfCatering for holidaying families & so much more #SaveSC
This will be very popular and it would make everything worse. A maxim for our times, right enough.
(You can’t fix housing problems by reducing the supply of housing.)
@qatarairways My flight has been cancelled, it says contact you but your online chat is not available and your call back for Privilege members is disabled. Why can I not just choose a different flight in the 2 complimentary date changes promised, when logged on?
This is total drivel. There is no clear policy objective and no evidence that reducing secondary short-term lets will deliver affordable housing in the Highlands. This approach ignores rural reality and risks damaging fragile local economies.
If the aim is housing, where is the joined-up strategy to actually deliver it? If the aim is tourism management, why does this read like an attempt to suppress visitors altogether?
We need balanced, evidence-led policy, not soundbites dressed up as solutions.
https://t.co/h2TcWvTieH
.@OrkneyCouncil has decided AGAINST a “Visitor Levy” - citing an "increased administrative burden" & costs for businesses, & concerns that a VL would make Orkney less able to compete for visitors.
A sensible decision, as with Shetland & Western Isles.
https://t.co/Iz5CkMHLst
We welcome @scotgov recognition of industry concerns and its commitment to enable councils to adopt alternative Visitor Levy methodologies, including a flat-rate model. This offers clarity, fairness & simplicity for both visitors & providers.” Fiona Campbell MBE
https://t.co/GuC4QFT2AQ
@FionaCampbell74@SaveSCScotland
Wales gets it right. 👏👏
A simple STL register and an affordable simple flat fee levy.of £1.30.
🏴 however has tied itself up in complex, costly and pointless red tape.
@Ivan_McKee@MairiMcAllan
https://t.co/188bIpfqBF
Do the words 'car & 'crash' come to mind over a #touristtax that locals & workers needing a place to stay pay too? This is ON TOP of 20% VAT. Way more already than most of our European counterparts. & local biz are meant to collect it... for free! @Edinburgh_CC@ASSCnews#SaveSC
Visitor Levy was to be £2 a night flat fee. Somehow Labour ran Edinburgh Council upped it to 5% + VAT. Greens pushing for it to be 7% before it even launches! This on top of the 20% VAT people already pay. Highest accommodation tax in Europe!!
https://t.co/NwJiV4xg3l