Graham Stuart, the Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, has called on the Treasury to look at ways of helping farmers who set aside small amounts of land for community use.
Currently agricultural land is subject to inheritance tax relief, but by switching the use of the land to a project for the benefit of local people, tax may well have to be paid.
Graham wrote to Exchequer Secretary David Gauke after visiting Tamara Hall at Molescroft Farm in Beverley, who has set aside land for an allotment project. They are also considering allowing a local football club to set up new pitches on some of their land, but the potential costs could prove an obstacle.
Graham said “I would like to see a way of having a dispensation for farmers, allowing them to let small areas of land for community use. They shouldn’t be left with a huge tax bill when they have decided to act for the good of their local area.”
