A beloved Somerset establishment, known as the Cider Barn, is at risk of shutting its doors after a staggering 500 percent increase in its business rates. Since 2012, Jason Law has operated the Cider Barn, nestled just off …
Plans to merge the Somerset town of Langport with its neighboring parish, Huish Episcopi, have been postponed following a legal challenge. Langport, largely encircled by Huish Episcopi, has faced financial pressures, with its …
Somerset Council has firmly dismissed any plans to introduce a ‘holiday tax’ on tourists, responding to concerns raised by Conservative councillors over the potential impact on local businesses. The Labour government recently …
Somerset Council has reported that it cannot currently provide details on the locations of more than 2,300 empty homes across the county because the system required to generate this data is “still being developed.” In …
HMRC has issued an important update for state pensioners regarding upcoming tax code adjustments tied to changes in state pension payments. Starting April, state pensions will rise by 4.8 percent, aligned with the …
In the UK, individuals can start claiming their state pension from the age of 66. However, those who choose to defer or pause their pension payments may significantly increase the amount they eventually receive. This …
The Labour government’s proposal to impose a mansion tax on homes valued over £2 million has drawn sharp criticism from a leading Bath councillor tasked with managing the local council’s finances. Under the planned “high …
Weston-super-Mare’s newly elected MP Dan Aldridge has joined forces with over two dozen parliamentarians, including MP Chris Webb, in an urgent plea to slash VAT for the hospitality industry before this month’s budget. Their …
Bath’s MP, Wera Hobhouse, has called for an emergency reduction in VAT to support local businesses severely impacted by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The Liberal Democrat representative advocates for an immediate 5% VAT …
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has issued a stark warning that approximately 309 pubs in the South West—representing around 1,788 jobs—could shut their doors next year unless urgent government intervention …
Farmers across the West Country are voicing fierce opposition to new government proposals imposing a 20% inheritance tax on agricultural estates valued over £1 million. They warn the tax could destroy family-run farms and …
The MP for Glastonbury and Somerton recently visited Wincanton Racecourse to voice strong concerns about the government’s proposal to harmonise Remote Betting and Gaming Duty. In a letter to the Chancellor, she warned that …
The government faces mounting pressure to reconsider a series of policies that critics say are devastating pubs and restaurants across the South West. Hospitality businesses—including pubs, hotels, and restaurants—are calling …
Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, visited Warren’s Farm Shop near Cheddar this week to pick strawberries alongside Wells & Mendip Hills MP Tessa Munt. During the visit, he called on shoppers to support British …
The UK Treasury is reportedly considering replacing stamp duty with a new property tax targeting homes valued over £500,000. This potential shift could significantly reshape the property market and how buyers and sellers …