Wendy Arrowsmith says she wants no part in ‘such rabble-rousing activities’, as previously reported in brief.The Association’s president, Alan Maclean, is a key member of the group of businessmen which has dubbed Budget Day ‘Black Tuesday’ and which is taking full-page adverts in the JEP calling on the public to protest in the Royal Square.Mrs Arrowsmith accuses the protest organisers of protecting their own interests.’It is with great regret, as a past president, that I have resigned from the Jersey Estate Agents Association,’ she said.’I despair at the often ill-informed scare tactics which are being used by various parties with a business interest in maintaining the status quo regarding various Budget propositions.
I wish to have no part in such rabble-rousing activities.’The housing market in Jersey is fragile enough already without full-page JEP adverts trying to frighten the life out of everyone.
The crunch came last evening when the president asked me to support another full-page advert, this time listing the members of the JEAA.
‘Not wishing to have my firm’s name associated with what I believe to be misleading propaganda, I had no alternative but to resign from the association.’Mrs Arrowsmith backs plans to cap mortgage interest relief, although she would prefer to see it phased out over a number of years.’I wrote to the Comptroller of Income Tax a few weeks ago to express my hope that the proposed changes to mortgage interest tax relief be gradually phased in over a period of time rather than the big-bang approach, which may make some of those people affected rather nervous.
I still believe this is the right approach, as it would give people more time to plan ahead,’ she said.Mrs Arrowsmith also claims that increases in stamp duty will have little impact.’These changes mean that someone buying a house worth half a million will be paying just over a thousand pounds more in stamp duty – hardly the end of the world.’
