Plea to palace as rates bill is given the bird

Nov 26 2007 by Dave Black, The Journal

FEATHERS are flying in a Northumberland village after a group of pigeon racing enthusiasts were told they will have to pay a £150 rates bill for their tiny wooden shed.

Homing pigeon owners in Belford were furious to learn from their local council that business rates will be charged from next year on the 18ft by 8ft hut which they have used for 20 years to store their race baskets and hold meetings.

Their anger was heightened when they were told they can’t even seek 80% rate relief on the annual bill because pigeon racing is not officially recognised as a sport by decision-making bodies.

Now a letter is winging its way to Buckingham Palace to seek support for the racers’ plight from the Queen – who is patron of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association.

The small group of Belford fanciers say they have been caught up in Government moves to levy business rates on small village halls and sports clubs.

Sports clubs can register with HM Revenue and Customs as a Community Amateur Sports Club and qualify for 80% rate relief, but pigeon racing is not on a list of eligible sports held by Sport England.

Yesterday Eric Sim, 63, who chairs the Belford pigeon club and has been racing his birds for 30 years, said the five members were incensed at the move.

“Our shed is just 18ft long, has no electricity or water and is only used to store our baskets and to meet and ring our birds about 20 times a year. We have never had to pay rates on it but got a letter from Berwick Council a few months ago saying we would have to start paying next year.

“I was told by the council that it is now policy that all club sheds and halls are to be rated on instructions from the Government. We couldn’t believe it because you don’t have to pay rates on a shed you put up in your garden or on an allotment.

“Things are made worse by the fact that we aren’t listed as an eligible sport for rate relief. Pigeon racing has been recognised as a sport for well over 100 years and this latest turn of events will cause many clubs to struggle to make ends meet. It seems so unfair and shows what a cheeseparing attitude the Treasury can adopt.”

Geoff O’Connell, who represents the village on the borough council, is raising the matter with Buckingham Palace, Revenue and Customs and Berwick MP Alan Beith. Yesterday he said: “The racing of homing pigeons has been supported by the Royal Family for many years and the royal lofts at Sandringham are a testimony to this sport.

“It is little to ask the Government to show some sympathy towards this group of people by recognising this activity as a sport.”

Calls have been made for some years for pigeon racing to be recognised as a sport so that devotees and clubs can apply for funding grants and tax relief. But in January, former sports minister Richard Caborn told the House of Commons that no representations had been made to Sport England. No-one from Berwick Council could be contacted for comment yesterday.