Shrewsbury bar owner vows to scrap seats if fees backed
Tuesday 30th November 2010, 4:00PM GMT.
A Shrewsbury bar and restaurant owner has vowed to get rid of all his outdoor seating if council chiefs push through new plans to charge for each chair.
Quintin Morgan, who runs Morgans in Shrewsbury, said his 24-seat outdoor area was one of the biggest in the town.
But he said today a proposal to charge £75 per pavement seat, currently being considered by Shropshire Council, had not been thought out properly.
Mr Morgan said the new levy could see him forking out an additional £2,000 a year.
“I understand that the council is looking for ways to boost revenue but this sort of charge is unreasonable,” said Mr Morgan.
“It’s ill thought out and I really think we need to be consulted about the plans. I think a reasonable solution would be to create a pavement licence and charge around the same amount as the premises licence.
“That would see us having to pay around £270, and I would pay that. I won’t pay the £75 per seat and we will just have to lose them.
“We have one of largest outdoor seating areas in the town and I could be charged around £2,000 with the amount of chairs I have.
“That’s around 10 per cent of the business rates we pay, which have also gone up this year. With tax going up as well it will mean having to cut back on staff hours or make people unemployed.”
The new licensing laws, which could come into effect next year, are being discussed as part of a review of options for the council to secure more revenue.
West Mercia Police has also been involved with the talks along with the council’s planning and highways teams.
Mr Morgan added: “There are a lot of businesses in the town which will be affected.”
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