Latest news with #LiverpoolBID
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Trade body wants Liverpool 'tourist tax' pause during appeal
A trade body which represents the hospitality industry said a so-called "tourist tax" on hotel guests in Liverpool should not be levied while an appeal against the plan is being £2-per-room per-night charge was introduced on Sunday after it was approved in a ballot by hotels which are part of the city's Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID).The aim of the fee, which is officially known as a "visitor charge", is to raise money to support Liverpool's visitor scheme is facing a challenge from Whitbread plc, which owns the Premier Inn chain of hotels. Whitbread has not publicly revealed the reasons for its opposition to the charge. Trade body UKHospitality said it had written to Liverpool's ABID to suggest the introduction of the charge be paused for eight weeks, pending the appeal outcome.A spokesperson said: "UKHospitality is clear that as these decisions are made, the ballot process must be fair, timely and transparent."We have been made aware of an appeal against the Liverpool Accommodation BID and we have therefore written to the BID with a suggested eight-week delay to its introduction to allow for the appeal to run its course." 'Not a tax' Bill Addy, chief executive of the Liverpool BID Company, which manages the Accommodation BID, suggested using the phrase "tourist-tax" was not helpful. He said: "This is not a tax. Local authorities raise taxes, central government raises taxes. "This visitor charge is an industry-led effort to boost the visitor economy, to have a say in how the hospitality sector is supported, and tackle the challenges it faces. "This has been a process entirely guided by the private sector board of hoteliers – who are using Business Improvement District legislation to make a difference for their industry and their city."Mr Addy added: "It's in the very DNA of Business Improvement Districts to support business and make cities thrive, and this is at the heart of this. "It isn't a political issue, it's far more important than that." The government has told the BID there was no requirement to pause the collection of the levy while the appeal process is considered. Were the Secretary of State to declared the results of the earlier ballot void, money raised would be returned to everyone who paid it. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council leader defends end of free evening parking
A council leader has defended the decision to end free evening parking in Liverpool City Centre, calling it a "necessary decision". Councillor Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the move would not be "universally popular" but described the increase as "proportionate" for a city the size of Liverpool. It was confirmed last week that despite almost 90% of people who responded to a survey saying they were against the amendment, the city council is pressing ahead with extending its parking restrictions to 11pm. From next month, drivers will be charged from 07:00 to 23:00, rather than the current length of 08:00 to 18:00. It will also cost drivers more as 30 minutes parking in the city centre rises from £1.20 to £2 and an hour will cost £4, up from £2.40. The decision has angered opposition groups and businesses who are concerned how it will impact them. The Liverpool BID Company, which represents hundreds of levy-paying firms in the city centre has called for a U-turn. Mr Robinson said: "We always knew this wouldn't be a universally popular decision, I think if you asked most people they would wish we'd have free parking all day, every day. "As we set out in the process, historically we've been charging at lower levels than most cities across the country and haven't changed these for a number of years so there's an element of catch-up with inflation. "We believe what we will be implementing is proportionate for a big city of our nature with everything that's going on." He added the council is also with Steve Rotheram (Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region) to freeze bus fares. The decision to end free parking came almost three years after it was first proposed by city councillors. The Liberal Democrats - the largest opposition group on the council - described the charging extension as a "hospitality tax". Mr Robinson said: "We're only talking about 28% of the parking spaces within the city, yes that's a large amount, but the vast majority of spaces are controlled by private car parking companies and they charge a lot more and around the clock. "We do believe it's necessary and proportionate. From our perspective we've looked at other cities and we realised to do something later is the right thing to do." The council leader explained "the additional revenue this will raise that will go into enforcement". He added: "The resources raised will go back into those frontline services people want us to invest in." And he also said: "We have taken on board thoughts and that's why a review point has been built in." Free city-centre parking to end despite objections
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Liverpool City Council leader defends end of free evening parking
A council leader has defended the decision to end free evening parking in Liverpool City Centre, calling it a "necessary decision". Councillor Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the move would not be "universally popular" but described the increase as "proportionate" for a city the size of was confirmed last week that despite almost 90% of people who responded to a survey saying they were against the amendment, the city council is pressing ahead with extending its parking restrictions to next month, drivers will be charged from 07:00 to 23:00, rather than the current length of 08:00 to 18:00. It will also cost drivers more as 30 minutes parking in the city centre rises from £1.20 to £2 and an hour will cost £4, up from £ decision has angered opposition groups and businesses who are concerned how it will impact Liverpool BID Company, which represents hundreds of levy-paying firms in the city centre has called for a Robinson said: "We always knew this wouldn't be a universally popular decision, I think if you asked most people they would wish we'd have free parking all day, every day. "As we set out in the process, historically we've been charging at lower levels than most cities across the country and haven't changed these for a number of years so there's an element of catch-up with inflation."We believe what we will be implementing is proportionate for a big city of our nature with everything that's going on."He added the council is also with Steve Rotheram (Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region) to freeze bus decision to end free parking came almost three years after it was first proposed by city councillors. 'Hospitality tax' The Liberal Democrats - the largest opposition group on the council - described the charging extension as a "hospitality tax".Mr Robinson said: "We're only talking about 28% of the parking spaces within the city, yes that's a large amount, but the vast majority of spaces are controlled by private car parking companies and they charge a lot more and around the clock."We do believe it's necessary and proportionate. From our perspective we've looked at other cities and we realised to do something later is the right thing to do."The council leader explained "the additional revenue this will raise that will go into enforcement". He added: "The resources raised will go back into those frontline services people want us to invest in."And he also said: "We have taken on board thoughts and that's why a review point has been built in."
