Mayor ‘doesn’t want to burden families with tourism tax

The government announced last week that mayors could set modest charges for visitors to their areas.

Schemes are already in force in Manchester and Edinburgh, with the money being invested back into the area.

The Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire says she wants to see the results of a public consultation before making a decision on whether to introduce it.

“I don’t want to tax family holidays or hamper the tourism economy, which is worth £2billion a year to Lincolnshire,” she told Radio Lincolnshire’s Frances Finn.

“I’ve taken my son to Butlins in Skegness before – do we really want to burden families? An extra tax could be the difference between going on holiday or not.

“And if we don’t want to tax British people, could we look at international visitors? Possibly.”

The Reform mayor has an annual £24million budget for transport, skills, infrastructure and other priorities.

Ms Jenkyns answered listeners’ questions on her first six months in office, and her plans for the coming year.

“I have been in constant talks on my plans to build a new town – somewhere lovely and aesthetically pleasing,” she said

“Infrastructure has to come before expansion. We have all seen 1,000 houses built in without the infrastructure, and residents struggle to get a doctors appointment.

“By having a town, we can put pressure on the government to relieve housing targets in the district.”

“I can’t say where yet as it would affect land value, but there will be a full consultation.”

She revealed that she’s not spent much of the year’s £24million budget yet as plans are put in place, with the money able to roll over to the following years if necessary.

“I am about to release a plan for growth, and I’m looking at potential locations for trade college,” she said.

“Too many young people have been pushed down the academic route, leading to a shortage of trades like plumbing, plastering, building and engineering.”