Councillors in Cornwall have agreed to impose a “surf tax” on businesses operating on some of the area’s beaches.
Surf schools are to be charged to launch from beaches that are owned by Cornwall council as part of the authority’s attempts to raise money to counter government cuts. Until now they have not had to pay a fee to the local authority.
The scheme will be in place by next summer and will require schools to pay £72.15 per board per year, meaning a business operating with eight boards will pay an annual fee of £577.20. The plans have been strongly criticised by the schools themselves, some of whom fear the charges will force them out of business, and local MPs.
Concerns have also been voiced that the move will make the beaches of England’s south-west coast more dangerous if more people head into the waves unsupervised.
Peter Abell, the owner of Kingsurf Surf School at Mawgan Porth – one of the beaches affected – said he was “gutted” at the decision.
He said that if surf schools were to close, people would still try to surf – but without the help and guidance of an instructor: “The council are encouraging us to not go in the water with people and help them, but to send people out there with no supervision, which is dangerous.”
He also pointed out that surfing instructors often act as lifeguards. “We have done over 20 rescues this summer already. If our margins get squeezed we will potentially have less volunteer lifeguards here.”
In the past Cornwall council has discussed ways of raising its own taxes, such as levying a £1-a-night tax on holidaymakers, and the idea of generating income by charging schools to use its beaches has been debated for months.
There was criticism of it at a meeting of the cabinet earlier this week. Councillor John Fitter, who represents St Mawgan, called it “an unfair attack on the surfing industry” while Fiona Ferguson, representing Truro Trehaverne, said the scheme was “extraordinary”. She argued that any potential profit would be offset by administration costs.
But the cabinet member for housing and environment, Joyce Duffin, said the authority already charged businesses such as ice cream vans and bike hire companies to use its land. She said the money would raise funds for a council that is facing £196m in cuts over the next four years.
She said: “The fairest way to regulate and license them is to introduce a licensing scheme that reflects the size and capacity of each business and we have done that by introducing a fixed licence fee per board. We have arrived at this point after conducting a full consultation with the industry and a number of discussions with members.”
Duffin said the council would also make sure that businesses using its land are appropriately insured and staff are properly trained.
Beaches affected include Crooklets and Summerleaze in Bude, north Cornwall, and Praa Sands near Penzance in the south. Constantine Bay, near Padstow, will also be affected.
The MP for St Austell and Newquay, Steve Double, said: “I think this is the wrong decision. It is yet another example of the Liberal Democrat/independent administration’s apparent declaration of war against the tourist industry, something which is so important not just in our constituency but across Cornwall as a whole.”
