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Mark Semmens' family has lived in Mousehole for generations.

But he says despite earning what many would class as a decent wage in west Cornwall, he and his brother have been priced out of the village by second home owners.

"My family has lived in Mousehole for generations, but there's no way my brother or I could afford a house in the village we were brought up in," he said.

"And I'm lucky enough to be on a decent wage for this part of the country.

“I've watched all the older generation pass away and then their property is swept up by either a company who then rent it out as a holiday home or some extremely affluent individuals from a big city somewhere who buy it to live in it for a month a year collectively.

“Any local businesses struggle now as fewer and fewer people actually live there whereas before the general store or post office used to be the go to for the whole community."

Mark will join a group of campaigners planning to march from Mousehole to Penzance to call for a change in the law, which would allow councils to charge an extra council tax levy on second home and holiday let owners.

Thousands have signed a petition which also demands local authorities are given the freedom to require second home buyers to apply for planning permission to ‘convert’ a local home to be used as a second home.

Campaigners say the funds released by the council tax levy could then be used to build social housing for local residents in the area.

A debate on the issue by Cornwall Council was called off last month. Now campaigners from the Labour Party have been collecting signatures to present to St Ives MP, Derek Thomas, on Saturday February 10.

“There are currently over 900 people on the council house waiting list in Penzance alone,” said newly elected Penzance town councillor, Alana Bates, who has been collecting signatures.

“But just down the road in Mousehole over 50% of the houses are used for leisure purposes. The cost of privately renting property in Penzance is out of step with the low wages most families earn here.

“There has to be a solution to the housing crisis we are facing, and we believe money raised from this extra taxation could pay for genuinely affordable social housing for local residents."

She says the rise in the number of properties being used as second homes has affected many towns and villages across Cornwall.

Second homes in numbers More than 6,000 holiday lets in Cornwall are not paying their way and campaigners say it is wrong. There are 20,000 holiday lets in the county and almost 8,000 of them are registered as businesses. These should theoretically pay business rates, but do not have to pay council tax. The others pay council tax like all other residential properties. However, of the 7,707 'business' holiday lets, only about 1,700 contribute anything in the form of taxation. The rest have a rateable value of £12,000 or less and are covered by an exemption for small businesses. Campaigners say that if the 6,065 or so holiday lets which are so far exempt from taxation paid it, Cornwall Council would be £10 million richer every year.

In nearby St Ives, they have adopted a principle as part of their neighbourhood plan which states no new built properties should be sold as second homes.

Last year, people living in the parish of St Minver, Mevagissey and the Rame Peninsula, also pushed for similar restrictions on second homes.

(Image: Greg Martin)

Cornwall Councillor for Penzance Central, Cornelius Olivier, has also been aiding his Labour Party colleagues in organising the petition and march.

He believes second homes and holiday lets are ‘taking over’ and ‘hollowing out’ communities like Mousehole.

“The petition is a plea, calling for something to be done about affects that second homes and holiday lets are having in Cornwall,” he said.

“The gap between what people can earn in Cornwall and what housing costs in Cornwall is enormous and makes housing – decent and secure housing – unaffordable for very many people who live and work here.

“We’re not trying to ban second homes and holiday lets, we’re not trying to fine their owners, we’re not charging them with anti-social behaviour – but we want them to pay towards solving the problem that their activities and properties create.”

Former St Ives MP and Lib Dem campaigner Andrew George will also join the protest march on Saturday.

He said: "If the rich under-occupy their second home the Conservatives reward them - with massive tax avoidance loopholes. But if the poor are deemed to under occupy their council home they penalise them with the 'bedroom tax'.

"It is of course very good to see the Council, including Cabinet members, making a cogent case for powers to control second homes and to make sure that they pay a fair share of taxes, something it is clear the majority of them don’t do at present.

"The Conservatives know full well there are transparent multi-million pound tax loop-holes which operate to the significant advantage of second home owners and to the detriment of local businesses, the taxpayer, local services and locals in housing need."

“Cornwall Council faces massive cuts to its vital services as a result of the cruel and unfair cuts by the Conservative Government. But the exploitation of these second home tax loopholes just make Cornwall's dire situation far worse.

"The Tories are fully aware of these loopholes. I've been telling them about it for years. But they've shown no interested. I think they see second homers as an important voter base for them, so they'd rather turn a blind eye.”

The petition, which has been collected in towns across West Cornwall, from Newlyn and Mousehole to St Just and Porthleven, will be handed to Derek Thomas, who has shown interest in taking up the issue in Parliament.

When Cornwall Live contacted Mr Thomas’s office for a comment, he told us: "We need to look at every option to ensure people have the homes they need and can afford.

"Raising money for affordable homes from second home owners is something the Conservative Government has done through the 3% Stamp Duty premium and Cornwall has received over £5m from this fund already.

"How council tax charges can also be used to prioritise local home ownership is something that must be explored and I met with the Local Government Secretary in January to discuss this.

"This is something we should address both here and on Scilly. Equal attention must be given to refurbish abandoned homes for local families and we must build where planning has been approved. This is something I've done a great deal of work and will continue to prioritise this."

Campaigners will be meeting to march from Mousehole Harbour at 10am on Saturday, Newlyn Green at 10.45 and the bottom of Causeway Head at 11am. Everyone is welcome to join the march.