Fiona launches petition to protect East Lothian’s listed buildings

 

East Lothian MP, Fiona O’Donnell, has launched a petition to protect East Lothian’s listed buildings following the Chancellor’s Budget announcement that any renovation work carried out on them from 1 October will be subject to VAT. 

 

Commenting on the Chancellor’s announcement, Ms O’Donnell said:

 

“We have some splendid towns and villages in East Lothian, with beautiful buildings that are intrinsic to our local heritage, culture and tourism. This measure will also affect many of the churches in our county, which are so important to community life. 

 

The impact of this policy hasn’t been properly thought through and that’s why I’ve created this petition to put pressure on the Government to abandon its proposals.  I think that it’s important that we protect our local heritage and I would encourage everyone to sign up.”

 

Sign Fiona’s Petition Here!

[[petition-9]]

 

2 Comments for this entry

• 

  Denis Mollison

  April 27th, 2012 on 10:08 am

  I thoroughly support the principle here, but I don’t think the description of what’s proposed is quite right.

  My understanding is that the proposed change is that ALTERATIONS to listed buildings will no longer be zero-rated.

  REPAIRS and MAINTENANCE to listed buildings attract full VAT, and will continue to do so. That is actually in my view a much larger injustice: if you repair and maintain a historic building you are charged 20% VAT,; if you knock it down or neglect it and then replace it with a new building you pay no VAT. This is ridiculous from both the heritage and climate change points of view.

  How about a petition to get rid of VAT on repairs and maintenance of listed buildings?!

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• 

  Olwyn Owen

  April 27th, 2012 on 8:52 pm

  This is such a short-sighted policy – the most sustainable developments involve repair and re-use of historic buildings. This will encourage developers and owners to demolish them.

  It is a nonsense to remove the VAT relief on activities that help preserve buildings that contribute hugely to the quality of people’s lives. Time and again, communities and businesses say that they value the historic cores of cities, towns, villages and countryside. The historic environment helps drive business and investment; it attracts visitors; histyoric buildings are the much-loved fabric of our daily lives. The financial help available to owners, charities, churches, and a host of occupants and users of historic buildings should have been INCREASED – because of the importance of our fantastic heritage! This would be the best investment for the future.

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