Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, has written to the Department of Communities and Local Government to protest the high rates charged to local business or community sponsors of roundabouts.
Local business Essington Fruit Farm was approached four years ago by a local community group to sponsor a traffic island. It spent hundreds of pounds on plants and materials for the area in return for putting up a small sign proclaiming that it was the sponsor.
However, recently Essington Fruit Farm owner Richard Simpkin received a bill through the post for £1000 of back payments to cover the rateable value of the advertising space.
The business had been given no notice that any payments would be demanded when it agreed to sponsor the traffic island, which is owned by Staffordshire County Council.
Richard Simpkin said: “We were horrified and astonished to discover that we would be rated on this sign… We feel caught up in a web of beaurocracy that we feel is penalising community spirit and generosity. We have turned to Gavin to see what he can do and between us we are trying to start a crusade for common sense.
“It seems to me to be a bizarre example of how not to display joined up government… All authorities are doing their jobs correctly, but the net result is a generosity tax which is designed to discourage the dream of a big society.”
Following an appeal, the bill has been reduced to just over hundred pounds to cover part of the current year, on the understanding that the sponsorship sign will be removed.