LOCAL MS Anna Nicholl has welcomed the Welsh Government’s 12-week consultation on 182 days, while Welsh Conservative MS Paul Davies and his party think the new Plaid Cymru Government has wasted its first three months in office after announcing a consultation on the controversial 182-day holiday let rule, despite the tourism industry already being at the height of its busiest season.

The Welsh Conservatives say: “Almost 100 days after taking office, the only action ministers have taken is to launch a 12-week consultation that will not even conclude until late October, leaving thousands of tourism businesses facing continued uncertainty throughout the summer.”

The party has confirmed it will submit a full response to the consultation, but says the recent announcement demonstrates that the new government's much-hyped 100-day plan has delivered another review instead of real action.

Paul Davies MS, who is Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for the Welsh Language, Culture, Tourism and Sport as well as a Senedd Member for Ceredigion Penfro, said:

"Almost 100 days into office and Plaid Cymru’s answer is yet another review.

“Tourism businesses needed ministers to get on with fixing this damaging policy before the summer season, not launch a consultation when holiday lets and visitor attractions are already at their busiest.

"The 182-day rule has been causing problems for years. Businesses, representative organisations and opposition parties have repeatedly warned ministers about the damage it is doing to the tourism economy. Nobody needs another three months to discover there is a problem.

“We will respond in full to the consultation and make the case for reducing the threshold to 105 days, as the Welsh Conservatives have consistently argued.

“Today's announcement is another reminder that this government seems far more interested in commissioning reviews than delivering decisions. Wales’ tourism industry cannot afford to spend another summer waiting for ministers to make up their minds.”

Anna Nicholl MS said:

“I welcome the new Plaid Cymru government working at pace on this. We have a housing crisis. We need more homes in the local housing market, especially in areas like Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire where we have communities with high levels of second homes.

“But, it’s clear that the current policy hasn’t got the right balance at the moment. It is having a big financial impact on local businesses that wasn’t intended. I’m concerned about the level stress it’s created for business owners and I welcome this review.”

The Ceredigion Penfro Senedd Member urges all those affected by the non-domestic rates 182 days rule to take part in the consultation.

As part of a Plaid Cymru manifesto commitment, the consultation will consider changes to the threshold of 182-days, along with five proposed new exemptions for properties that could not reasonably serve as permanent homes.

Kerry Ferguson MS commented:

“I welcome this consultation and I urge all self-catering holiday-let owners in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire who have been affected to take part. This is an opportunity to have your voices heard and to support the tourism industry.”

To access the consultation, visit www.gov.wales/node/77548/respond-online .