Hotelier fights for law change
A KIRKCUDBRIGHT hotelier is fighting for a change in licensing rules in a bid to, as he says, protect tourism and businesses in the area.
Chris Walker of the Selkirk Arms feels new regulations imposing high costs for liquor licenses are uncalled for and will ultimately force small businesses out of the area.
Chris told the Gazette: "There are several scenarios that have led to my petition. Firstly the case of a caravan park - complete with small shop and glass-fronted fridge stocking two or three wines and half a dozen types of beer - is forced to re apply for the liquor license at a cost of 1040, which is 604 percent more than the annual 172 it currently pays. The annual fee thereafter will be 500."
The reason for the price hike is that the government has now based the new fees on rateable value.
Chris said that the second scenario leading to his fight is that of a small deli selling mostly hams, cheese, breads, olives and other delicatessen along with the odd bottle of sloe gin and locally brewed real ale.
He said: "The rateable value of that business as with the caravan park does not reflect the true ratio of Liquor sales, yet these businesses having to decide if the profit made on such small amounts of sales justifies the council's new fees."
The Deli will have a joining fee of 880 followed by an annual fee of 280.
Chris's third case tells of a hotel which faces an application fee of 1360 and an annual fee of 700 - a 400 percent increase.
Chris added: "This is a cost that some businesses are not prepared to bear and across the south of Scotland we have seen applications for off-sales down by a third.
"None of the fundamental principles set out in the policy statement by councils are threatened by the caravan park, the deli or the hotel.
"The act has failed to tackle the fundamental principles it set out to tackle and has created another layer of red tape and bureaucracy for an industry already suffering from the effects of the smoking ban and credit crunch."
Chris said whilst he is fully supportive of the smoking ban, the licensing act 2005 misses the point it set out to achieve and instead will be viewed as a source of revenue for the local authority.
He continued: "The legislation has been costly and unfair for many small businesses. The fee structure should in fact be based on Turnover specifically related to Alcohol sales."
Chris has gathered over 3000 signatures from licensed premises that face up to 400 percent increase in licensing fees and additional costs of plans, training and alterations to existing layouts.
He added: "Here in the rural south of Scotland we're getting kicked again - we don't have city centre volume, we can't take these increases on the chin. I have had dozens of licensees contact me the fact that we have collectively gathered 3000 signatures speaks volumes."
Chris will now face the Petitions Committee's hearing next Wednesday to state his cause.
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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