Alun Cairns, MP for the Vale of Glamorgan, has spoken out against the Council's new policy to charge local businesses for the use of outdoor spaces for tables and advertising boards.

Under these charges, which apply from next month, many new costs will be introduced, such as premises with café licenses paying up to £750 each year for the use of 11 or more tables.

The new charges also include a £300 annual charge for spaces larger than five metres and a £100 charge per advertising board with a maximum of two boards permitted per business.

They were previously charged a flat rate of of £497.50 per three years, meaning every cafe with at least three tables outdoors will have to pay more than before the pandemic.

This fee was suspended during the pandemic.

The new policy has drawn widespread criticism from local business owners and members of the public.

Mr Cairns said: "This is quite unbelievable, particularly at a time when so many traders are doing their very best to remain viable, to support their customers and to adhere to the Covid regulations.

"At the very least, this proposal should have been shelved until after we are through the pandemic. This approach is desperately out of touch and I urge the Council to reconsider."

Local traders have strongly expressed their anger with the charges, with one new business claiming that they are reliant on outdoor trade and that the charges will greatly impact them.

Marc Chesire, of Caesars, said: "At a time when we are already restricted in capacity this charge is ridiculous.

"Just as we are getting back on our feet after the various lockdowns, we are being hit by this charge which we see as totally unfair."

Katherine Marzana, of Fountains Tea Rooms explained: "These letters were hand delivered by the Council just two weeks before this, weeks before this charge is to be reintroduced, which was really unexpected after the tough year we have had.

"We are also told that we will be charged £40 a chair for every chair we go over the allocation, this is so wrong."

They were joined by local Conservative Councillor Leighton Rowlands who said: "I'm with local traders who are angered that the Vale Council has used emergency powers to push these charges through at a time when businesses are struggling."

Leader of the Conservative Group on the Vale Council, Cllr George Carroll said: "It's been a torrid year for the hospitality trade, and outdoor dining has offered local businesses a much-needed boost.

"Instead of treating them as a cash cow, the Council should be working proactively with businesses to minimise the disruption restrictions are causing them."

Local traders are now hoping that the Council will respond by backtracking on their policy.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council say the policy is designed "to ensure a fairer and safer use of the highway and greater opportunities for businesses, whilst also ensuring a clearer understanding of what is required from those who apply to place items on the highway asset."

During a scrutiny committee meeting, Deputy Council Leader insisted that the policy "is not income generation".