British MP: We need tax breaks for castle owners

[muriel_volestrangler]

No, this is not a spoof:

OWNERS of historic homes open to the public should get better tax breaks, according to North Oxfordshire MP Tony Baldry.

In a debate in the House of Commons, Mr Baldry highlighted the struggle families who owned properties such as Broughton Castle, near Banbury, faced in maintaining and repairing buildings.

He said changes to heritage maintenance funds would also give the country’s tourism a boost.

Mr Baldry said: “The owners of historic houses in no way wish to be rentiers on the state, but in consideration of the fact that they continue to provide public access to their homes, and of the broader community and national benefit of historic houses, we have an interest in trying to get the balance right.”

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/8814532.MP_criticised_over_tax_breaks_for_castles/

Meanwhile, the county his seat is in is closing 20 out of its 43 libraries, but Baldry has said fuck all about that. He's so clueless about austerity Britain it hurts.

[TheMightyFavog]

1. He's talking about tax breaks for people who turn their castles and manor homes into PUBLIC MUSEUMS.

If there were still an unrec function, I'd be using it

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. 'Museum' my arse - Broughton Castle is open about 50 afternoons a year, and charges £7 for admission

http://www.broughtoncastle.com/openingtimes.htm

Museums in the UK are free. The rest of the time It's a business, with 1800 acres of prime agricultural land. That's been getting grants from government bodies for years. But Baldry thinks it needs more, at a time when his party are cutting everything in sight.

[SoCalDem]

3. If you have squandered the "family fortune" and are house-poor

DONATE the castle & move to a place you can afford..simple

If you insist on living in the castle/estate, then be prepared to pay the taxes

[SpiralHawk]

4. Proving their are RepubliCronies in England

Still.

God Save England from RepubliCronies & RepubliThink.

God Save the Planet from the same crap.