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Increasing council tax on holiday homes will send potential owners a ‘go elsewhere’ message, it has been claimed.

Last year Gwynedd Council backed plans to raise the tax by 50% - with the final decision being taken in March next year.

Gwynedd has the highest number of second or holiday homes of any county in Wales - with 5,626 and over 1,400 long-term empty homes.

It is estimated that an extra £7.4m would be raised from the extra tax on second homes and £1.8m from charging the same on long-term empty homes.

Previous council leader Dyfed Edwards said the extra money would be to used to help young people get a home in their communities by bringing empty homes back into use.

However, Mike and Jean Young who have a second home at Y Fron, near Caernarfon, said they have had to seriously consider selling their house as a result of the council proposal, which would add another £700 to their present bill of £1,300-400.

The Youngs, pensioners from Nottingham, have two children and four grand-children and bought their house in 2002 after enjoying many holidays in Gwynedd.

They said they bought it from “a young Welsh couple relieved to be going to a more lively and convenient location.”

Y Fron has no shops or pub and the village school has closed.

Mr Young, a retired engineer, said: “I don’t feel that young people want to live up here” adding that Gwynedd Council’s plans were making them “feel unwelcome”.

“We’ll grin and bear it for a while but should the full 100% punishment be imposed we would not be able or indeed willing to sustain the expense.

"The imposition of the tax increase sends a message to would-be second home owners that says: “Go elsewhere.”

Mr Young suggested that the council should buy up neglected houses instead and sell them to private individuals who undertake to restore them to approved standards in return for grants and concessions such as paying standard rate council tax.

He also suggested that wealthier people should have to pay more tax on their homes.

Mrs Young, 73, a retired personal assistant, said: “We feel not wanted and upset. We did seriously think of putting the house on the market because of the extra £700 a year it would cost us and might take us over the top of what we can afford to pay.

“People like us bring a lot of money into the economy.”

The Youngs said they had spent a lot of money on the house as well as on patronising visitor attractions and restaurants.

In response, a Gwynedd Council spokesman said: “As the report to the full council last December noted, Gwynedd has a higher number of second homes than any county in Wales. Studies show that large concentrations of second homes within communities can have a significant effect on the prosperity and sustainability of those communities with a direct effect on local services, such as shops and post offices due to a lower level of year-round population.

“In agreeing to the principle of a 50% premium, members noted the intention will be to use a percentage of the money received from charging a premium to provide housing in our communities for Gwynedd’s young people.”

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