Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A holiday home owner claims he may have to sell-up after Conwy Council implemented a new 25% surcharge on his second home's council tax bill.

David Thomas, from Rochdale, who also owns a third home in Spain, says he and his wife worked two to three jobs at a time to be able to buy a two bedroom bungalow in Old Colwyn.

For the past decade the couple have enjoyed their getaway home by the sea.

But they had a nasty shock in the post when they received their latest council tax bill for their Welsh home, as a new 25% second home surcharge on their council tax bill means it has increased to £2,000 - an extra £400 a year.

Mr Thomas said: "I'm so angry, upset, disappointed, frustrated-you name it.



"How proud we were that day 10 years ago when we took the keys. The bungalow had been empty for three years before we moved in.

"It had previously been vandalised and set on fire. We spent nearly £30,000 with local tradesmen to do it up and are very proud of our little home with sea view and near to local shops."

The 69-year-old former national newspaper journalist described the surcharge as a "bombshell".

He said: "I could weep if not just from a sense of being betrayed by the country we have adopted, if only part time, and where we have enjoyed many happy days."

Mr Thomas points out that an online survey carried out by Conwy Council about the proposed charges showed that 93% of people who responded, didn't think second home owners should be penalised in this way.

"We have immersed ourselves into the community by joining many local groups and organisations and make full use of the excellent sports facilities as well as spending a tidy sum in local pubs and restaurants and, not being here all the time, we use far fewer council services," blasted Mr Thomas.

"We felt we had become 'honorary Welsh people'. We would move here in a flash but have family commitments in Rochdale."

Mr Thomas said it would be a "tremendous wrench" if they had to leave North Wales, but the extra tax was like being "slapped in the face".



He added: "It is like being told "we don’t want you here", and I wonder how many other 'expats' from Manchester and Liverpool will be thinking the same?

"How will the local council coffers be affected when several hundred such people put their homes up for sale?"

Mr Thomas said whilst he understands the views of people who are against second homes to prevent property prices from becoming unattainable for local people.

But added: "I sympathise with that view. But when did North Wales cease to be a democracy? When was it decided to tell hard working people they are to be treated differently.



"Is this a short-sighted, get rich quick move, which the authority will live to regret?"



Mr Thomas says if he is to continue to keep his home in North Wales, he and his wife will be spending less in the local community to save money.

He added: "And, if we have to sell up, we will have many happy memories, but tinged with the better taste of feeling we have been unfairly treated, discriminated against and victimised."

But Old Colwyn Councillor Bob Squire said increasing council tax for second home owners was 'an acceptable outcome and in keeping with other authorities'.

He said: "I’m sorry that they feel as they do but the council set up a Task and Finish group on the second home issue and after much soul searching reached what they felt was an acceptable outcome and in keeping with other authorities.

"Everyone has suffered as a result of the Government’s austerity programme and the Council’s dreadful settlement from Welsh Government which resulted in a near 10% increase in Council Tax has hit hard at the many people in this community who can least afford it, especially pensioners and young families."

Cllr Brian Cossey from Old Colwyn said: "The Welsh Government allowed us to levy this extra tax and so we did, as at the moment we need to try and raise revenue any way we can.

"Whilst I can sympathise with Mr Thomas, the extra funding is going towards tackling homelessness."

A Conwy Council spokeswoman said: "Whilst the levying of the premiums has the potential to generate additional revenue it is intended to be a tool to b ring long-term empty homes back into use and to i ncrease the supply of affordable housing, to e nhance the sustainability of local communities and to help meet local housing needs."