CORNWALL Council has come under fire for a decision to licence surf school owners a large amount of their income if they want to continue to teach people to surf on council beaches.

The authority has offered surf schools the chance to apply for a three-year licence costing 4% of their gross income — a decision one school owner described as 'laughable'.

The surf schools are now stressing that the charge is closer to 16% of their income, four times the original figure announced by the council.

The reason behind the fee being applied to surf schools and organisations which rent out kayaks on 13 of its 40 owned beaches, is due to catering outlets on the beach already paying a charge.

But the decision, which has now been disputed for a year, has not been taken well by the school owners and some local councillors.

One surf school owner said: "The email from the council was laughable — it's been appalling how the council have treated us."

Another said: "The reason for the difference is the council want 4% of the school's profits before the school's costs have been deducted so the true figure is much higher at 16%.

"My rates are over £20,000 a year, I pay income tax, national insurance, water rates, liability insurance, and have very high costs a modern small business has in Cornwall."

A third added: "The surf schools have offered to pay a fair licence fee which was rejected by the council.

"The surf schools give jobs to local people and make our beaches safer."

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.