The rising number of holiday lets and second homes in Keswick is now so high that it is threatening the town’s sustainability, it is being claimed.
Last month, Councillor Allan Daniels highlighted the issue by obtaining statistics that showed that nearly one in two domestic properties in the Keswick area was now either a holiday let or a second home.
The figures – 794 self-catering holiday units with a CA12 postcode last month according to council tax records – had been described by Cllr Daniels as “quite astonishing” in a front page article in the Keswick Reminder.
Cllr Duncan Miller agreed with that when he raised the matter at last week’s town council meeting at the request of Cllr Adam Paxon, who was unable to attend.
Cllr Miller warned: “The sustainability of Keswick could be adversely affected by this current trend. It is not about anti-tourism. It is about still welcoming visitors to Keswick but managing the level of these holiday lets and second homes.”
Five to 10 years ago the situation was “reasonable” but Cllr Miller said demand and supply were no longer “in equilibrium.”
He said the coronavirus pandemic had not helped as more people sought to come to Keswick on holiday, either to rent or buy, rather than go abroad.
The situation was also compounded by second home owners being offered reductions on their council tax bills or total exemption if they switched to business rates.
“I am not saying second home owners are bad people. They put a lot into the town,” said Cllr Miller, who criticised the national park’s lack of consistency over planning applications which allowed unfettered homes to become holiday properties.
Keswick’s mayor Paul Titley forecast more problems if the Government’s Glover report was adopted.
The White Paper talks about “vibrant communities” but Cllr Titley said: “If we don’t do anything about second homes holiday lets, there won’t be any community left for them (visitors) to visit.”
Cllr Tony Lywood said: “It adds insult to injury that many holiday let owners had been able to apply for £10,000 from the Government in coronavirus payments during lockdown. We are encouraging them.”
Councillors agreed for the issue to be put on the November agenda for Keswick Town Council to be discussed in full.
With 477 properties in the CA12 area now second homes, there are now 1,271 holiday properties, which makes up 48 per cent of the total number of houses or flats (2,622) listed in the area in 2017.
