Takeaway tax idea slammed
BUSINESS leaders have slammed proposals by Redcar & Cleveland Council to slap an extra tax on new takeaways for cleaning up after their customers.
The council said it was anxious to preserve the vitality and viability of shopping areas and was concerned that the growing number of hot food takeaways was contributing to street litter.
Planners want to invoke greater powers to limit the number of takeaways opening in any one area and to negotiate a cash contribution from successful new fast food applicants. But business has slammed the plans.
Honfai Yau, who has run the Canton Delight restaurant in Dormanstown, Redcar, for 10 years, said it wasn’t right to ask new businesses to pay for removing other people’s litter.
John Wright, Tees Valley-based chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said instead of penalising new start-up firms, the council should be tackling anti-social behaviour to eradicate the problem.
He said: “Companies already pay business rates and don’t benefit from additional waste collection services from local authorities. Effectively, the council is asking new companies to pay for the removal of waste which may not have been purchased in their shop.
“A better solution would be to tackle the anti-social behaviour of people who throw litter on the streets.”
A spokesperson for the council’s planning department said the proposals would be subject to consultation that would include business organisations. A decision was expected to be announced “shortly”.
