Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris
I wonder whether you have really read it, as you’re still missing a salient point: it isn’t his. It belongs to the estate company, which is a fairly common state of affairs after the inheritance tax changes of the 20th century.
So yes, it’s still a private road and yes, if it’s that badly potholed then its owner may have been culpable (but see my comments earlier - liability for maintenance is not necessarily with the landowner. The leaseholder (the museum in this case) may have some responsibility).
Ultimately you may not feel any different about it but I think if we’re going to have an opinion on something it’s as well to try to ensure it’s an informed one.
|
I am afraid I am informed on this as you are. The Firle Estate, owned by the Gage family, has an tax break to reduce their inheritance tax:
https://www.oss.org.uk/firle-estate-...-and-for-what/
Quote:
The Firle Estate, near Lewes in East Sussex contains some of the most iconic walking landscape in the country, including the Firle Beacon stretch of the South Downs Way.
So it might not surprise you to learn that the Estate has obtained exemption from inheritance tax on nearly all the estate in return for keeping the estate in good condition and allowing public access.
This is a considerable tax concession and one that many home owners in the South-East would like to have.
|
A map of the areas of the estate that are exempt from inheritance tax can be seen
here
http://www.leweseye.co.uk/environmen...aths-of-firle/
Quote:
Governments have adopted a scheme to exempt property from inheritance tax in return for undertakings about public access and the adoption of measures designed to conserve the property. This can apply to land, buildings and works of art.
The Firle estate opens the Firle Place, a stately home, on a number of days per week in return for one exemption, but the estate has managed to get out of paying inheritance tax on the whole of the rest of the estate in return for what appears to be the granting of 2 new paths, doing the things it legally has to do anyway, and maintaining the estate in the way that any decent landlord would do. The exemption is worth many millions.
|
However, this is just another tiresome case of wealthy people trying not pay their dues. The main issue here is the epic PR fail. It will go on the pile of other Tory sleaze & corruption stories ..