Home / Environment / Lake District Eyeing Car Levy Over Tourist Tax
Lake District Eyeing Car Levy Over Tourist Tax
20 Feb
Summary
- Tourism leaders favor a vehicle levy instead of overnight stay tax.
- Most visitors arrive for day trips, making a car levy potentially more lucrative.
- The incoming Cumbria mayor, elected in 2027, holds the power to enact the levy.
Tourism businesses in the Lake District National Park are expressing a preference for a vehicle levy, rather than a tax on overnight stays. This sentiment emerged from a Keswick Tourist Association meeting, where members largely favored the car levy. The rationale behind this preference is that approximately 80% of visitors are day-trippers, suggesting a car-based fee could generate more substantial revenue.
The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has acknowledged the proposal but stated it does not currently possess the authority to implement a vehicle levy. This power is expected to reside with the newly elected Cumbria mayor, whose election is scheduled for 2027. The LDNPA has committed to collaborating with relevant authorities and the future mayor on visitor management initiatives.
Supporters of the vehicle levy view it as a form of collective funding, where small contributions from a large number of visitors could significantly benefit the park's infrastructure and environment. Concerns have been raised about potentially penalizing local residents who live outside the immediate national park but utilize its facilities. Discussions are ongoing regarding how to implement such a levy carefully to avoid negatively impacting these local visitors.
