Visitor levy for Dumfries and Galloway voted down

Councillors in Dumfries and Galloway have voted against taking forward plans for a potential visitor levy.

The local authority's economy and infrastructure committee was asked whether it wanted to take forward the proposals to the next stage of consultation.

However, a report showed local businesses had expressed "extremely high levels of opposition" to the introduction of the so-called tourist tax.

A motion to halt the process entirely rather than take it forward to the next stage was carried by 10 votes to eight.

The council was looking at the possibility of bringing in the levy which would then have been invested in improving the area as a destination.

The sector has been estimated to provide about 7,000 jobs across hundreds of businesses in Dumfries and Galloway - more than 10% of all employment.

A number of other local authorities have already agreed to introduce a levy.

However, Dumfries and Galloway councillors voted down another phase of consultation which would have cost about £10,000.

"I have sat with multiple people who will be affected by this giving me reasons why they are going to be affected," said Conservative councillor Jackie McCamon.

She said that having heard the impact on tourism, she could not support taking the process any further.

David Inglis, of the Novantae group of councillors from the west of the region, was among those who argued it should be taken forward in order to be able to invest in the sector.

"Where are we going to get the funding if we don't look at this?," he asked.

"We need to be looking at how we can support them."

Labour's Sean Marshall put forward a motion - seconded by Conservative Pauline Drysdale - to drop the plans.

It was successful against an amendment tabled by the SNP's council leader Stephen Thomson and seconded by party colleague Ben Dashper.

The council will now stop all work on the levy and not advance the scheme any further.