Slightly off topic but a lot of our local railway users are tourists / travellers who don't make the return journey in the day - they need somewhere to lay their heads ....

There is a  proposed "bed tax" that's being considered by the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government.  As I understand it, there are ideas / and discussions of a tax of the order of 6% on overnight accomodation.  That's in addition to (and not replacing) VAT for those
estanblishments which are VAT registered.

There is already a heavy tax on accommodation in the UK and that's already driving potential visitors away. And that impacts not only on the hoteliers, but other local businesses too such as shops, restaurants, the train and bus operators, and attractions operators such as the National Trust, the Bowood Estate, Corsham Court, etc. with lower visitor numbers.  I'm also concerned that the administration aspects may be one last straw that breaks the camel's back for some of the smaller B&B operators.

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