A family-run campsite in Cheddar, Somerset, England, is facing a sharp increase in its annual business rates bill, rising from £1,070 to £28,820, prompting a local member of Parliament to call for government support for rural tourism and hospitality businesses.
Petruth Paddocks, located off Labourham Way on the southern edge of Cheddar, welcomes more than 20,000 visitors annually and supports more than 50 local jobs. Owned by Jules Sayer, the campsite also contributes to the local economy by bringing customers to nearby businesses, including the Cider Barn in Draycott.
The increase, equivalent to approximately 2,700%, was raised by Wells and Mendip Hills MP Tessa Munt during a House of Commons debate on Thursday, October 15. Munt, who also represents the Wells division on Somerset Council, called attention to the financial pressure the revised bill could place on the campsite and other rural businesses that depend on tourism.
“I have been contacted by Petruth Paddocks, a family-run camping business on the outskirts of Cheddar, which welcomes more than 20,000 visitors a year and supports more than 50 jobs,” Munt said.
“Its business rates liability this year has increased by almost 2,700 per cent, from £1,070 per annum to £28,820 per annum, with no meaningful warning and no chance to plan for this catastrophic hike.
“Will a Treasury minister or the secretary of state meet me to discuss what can be done in rural Somerset, where so many businesses depend on hospitality and tourism? They really cannot take this kind of kicking.”
Business rates in England are based on property valuations determined by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), according to Hello Rayo. Somerset Council collects the payments on behalf of the Treasury, while the central government determines annually how much business rates revenue local authorities can retain to fund public services, including road maintenance and adult social care.
During the debate, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds acknowledged the scale of the reported increase and suggested that the matter could be referred to the Treasury.
“Those are obviously dramatic figures – I assume that they have happened through revaluation.
“I will endeavour to get the honourable lady in contact perhaps with the Treasury, rather than this department, to support her constituency.”
The issue highlights the potential implications of property revaluations for tourism businesses operating from sites with substantial land or facilities. Depending on how a property is assessed, changes in its rateable value can affect operating costs even when visitor numbers and revenue have not increased at a comparable rate. For campsites and RV parks, higher fixed costs can put pressure on margins, particularly when seasonal demand, staffing, maintenance, utilities, and infrastructure expenses already shape annual budgets.
The increase at Petruth Paddocks also raises questions about how smaller tourism operators can prepare for changes to their business rates liabilities, particularly when substantial increases leave limited time to adjust pricing, investment plans, or staffing budgets.
While the source does not detail the campsite’s revised valuation or whether any relief measures apply, the case underscores the importance of reviewing property assessments, understanding applicable business rates relief, and incorporating potential tax changes into financial planning.
Further discussions are expected during a visit by Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP to Munt’s constituency on October 24. The visit will bring local businesses together to discuss business rates and other concerns affecting companies in the area. Attendance is free for those who register through the event page at Eventbrite.
Munt said the concerns extend beyond one campsite, arguing that rising business rates are creating difficulties for rural operators.
“Time and again, people running rural businesses tell me their business rates are becoming untenable.
“How on Earth are tourism and hospitality businesses meant to continue trading when the government hikes their rates to such astronomical levels?
“I’ve raised this issue in the House of Commons and will press Treasury ministers to ensure rural businesses are supported, not penalised in this way.”
For campground owners and other outdoor hospitality operators, the outcome of any discussions with Treasury officials could be relevant to future cost planning. However, no specific policy change or relief for Petruth Paddocks was announced during the debate, and the campsite’s next steps regarding its revised bill remain unclear.
