Highland visitor levy places ‘increased financial burden’ on Caithness residents
Disgraceful to add visitor charge onto Caithness residents
The Highland Council is proposing to introduce a visitor levy on everyone stopping in hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, self-catering, camp and caravan sites and other similar locations, with the levy being set at 5 per cent of the cost of the room.
Under the proposals, the only exemptions will be those included in the Scottish Parliament’s enabling legislation, which are gypsy and traveller sites, the homeless and those in accommodation not fit to live in, victims of domestic abuse, asylum seekers and refugees, and those in receipt of certain disability payments.
Everyone else living in the Highlands who books into accommodation elsewhere in the region will have to pay the visitor levy.
Therefore, those who will have to pay include the many locals who have to travel from remote areas like Caithness to Inverness for medical appointments and who, given the appalling state of public transport, may have to stay overnight in Inverness.
It also includes those whose medical procedures mean it wouldn’t be safe for them to drive home to Caithness afterwards and so may have to stay in Inverness.
If they stay overnight, the visitor levy would apply to pregnant women, those with chronic health conditions and those with appointments for examinations or even surgery who, following NHS Highland’s insistence on centralising so much of the health service, now have to travel to Inverness.
In its guidance notes and frequently asked questions, the Highland Council justifies this additional charge thus: “Most of the patients travelling for medical treatment can apply to their NHS Board for support... NHS policy states that patients can claim expenses from their local NHS Board.”
Claiming accommodation costs from NHS Highland isn’t easy and even if a patient is successful, the maximum that can be claimed is £50 a night, a lot lower than the rates offered by most Inverness hotels, particularly in the summer months. The visitor levy will increase the cost of already costly accommodation.
Whereas I have no objection to a visitor levy, I consider it disgraceful that an extra financial burden is being proposed on those living in the Highlands who have little or no choice but to travel to Inverness.
Once again those who live in areas like Caithness will end up with additional financial pressures. Surely a straightforward way round this would be to exempt those living in the Highlands.
The Highland Council’s consultation continues until February 2025. I would urge people to complete the consultation, as well as writing to their local councillors asking them to oppose the levy being charged on Highland residents. After all, the leader of the council lives in Caithness. People can access the consultation and other relevant documents at: https://www.highland.gov.uk/visitorlevyconsultation
Kevin Crowe
Loch Street
Wick
Relax with art On the Edge
On behalf of the Society of Caithness Artists, I wish all a healthy, contented, and peaceful festive time no matter how or indeed if you “celebrate”.
This season can bring with it a sense of being overwhelmed. Too many choices, too many dustbins, too many craft fayres and too many national appeals in local newspapers! This letter is not, I repeat not, any such appeal – although I hope the message is appealing.
The society’s latest exhibition opens at the North Coast Visitor Centre in Thurso on Friday December 13 and is titled On the Edge.
More than 20 artists have interpreted the theme in their own artistic style. Whilst many have followed a traditional route of using local scenery to communicate the message, others have delved a bit deeper.
Whatever your taste, there is something for everyone, and the exhibition offers an escape to relax away from the demands of modern life.
Ian Pearson
Chair Society of Caithness Artists
Sinclair Street
Thurso
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