Shop owners’ anger at cafe ‘table tax’
Labour Lambeth plan to charge local businesses an arm and a leg for putting tables and chairs outside busy cafes.
The Council recently announced plans to charge shops that already own the freehold to land in front of their shops as much as £824 for permission to put chairs or displays outside.
For some shopkeepers and cafe owners, who are already struggling through trade losses, these charges would increase their costs by 20 per cent each year. To make matters worse, not being able to put chairs and tables outside would drive away potential customers.
Thurlow Park councillor Clare Whelan is supporting a petition by shops on Rosendale Road to oppose the charges .
Clare said: “It’s the same principle as the council coming to my house and telling me to move tables and chairs. It is tough enough for small businesses in Lambeth at the moment without this new tax.
“These are exactly the sort of businesses we need.”
“The council should be trying to encourage and support them, not put them out of business.”
Putting between one and four chairs outside cafes will cost £464 while businesses with more than 21 chairs will have to pay £824.
All shops will have to pay a £103 application fee for the licence.
