A tourism tax is not the “right answer” for Weston-super-Mare, the local council warned, while parts of the town called for action against tourists.

The town in north Somerset made a name for itself as a Victorian seaside resort and tourism still plays an important role in the economy.

People who voluntarily pick up garbage on the beach have demanded the payment of a tax for tourists to mitigate the negative impacts of tourism.

Sophie Newton runs Sophie’s Super Litter Picking Group and said they spent more than two and a half hours filling 18 bags with rubbish from the beach on July 29.

She said: “More people mean more garbage.

“As a coastal town, we are simply not prepared for the influx of visitors and unfortunately cannot finance the necessary additional services from our local taxes alone.”

The municipalities do not have the authority to collect tourist taxes, but they have introduced in Liverpool and Manchester through a workaround.

In nearby Bath, a major tourist destination, the idea of ​​a tourist tax has been repeatedly mooted.

But Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council and councillor for Weston-super-Mare Central, said he did not believe this was the right solution for the town.

He said: “Personally, I don’t think a tourist tax is the right answer.

“While this may generate additional revenue, it will also increase the cost of a holiday in Weston-super-Mare.”

Mr Bell added that there were around 4.2 million day visitors to Weston last year and 175,000 overnight trips where people stayed for more than a day, with total visitor spending approaching £200 million.

He said: “This year we have put additional resources into litter collection on the seafront and are increasing signage and messaging to encourage visitors to ‘leave only footprints’.”

“If necessary, we will also take action against those who leave rubbish behind.”

Weston-super-Mare’s beach and seaside attractions, such as the Grand Pier, are important drivers of tourism in the town.

North Somerset Council is currently working to bring Birnbeck Pier back to life after securing funding from the Levelling Up Fund and other sources to restore the derelict structure.