Richmond Council leader criticizes new Tourist Tax

Richmond Council leader Gareth Roberts has criticized a government announcement regarding a new Tourist Tax, labeling it a “cash grab” that will benefit the Mayor of London rather than the local borough.

While the area has seen an economic boom due to increased tourism—driven largely by fans visiting filming locations from the Apple TV series “Ted Lasso”—Roberts argues that the influx of visitors places additional strain on local infrastructure. He noted that increased tourism leads to more wear on roads, pavements, and parks, as well as higher costs for waste management.

The council leader expressed frustration that revenue from the tax would be directed to City Hall, stating that the borough is already facing significant funding cuts. He argued that for the tax to be fair, the funds should be used to offset the local costs associated with hosting millions of visitors and hundreds of thousands of overnight guests.