A SEASIDE amusements owner has described talks about his industry’s future with Weston’s MP as ‘positive’.

Will Bollom, proprietor of Olympia, says he and Tourism Minister John Penrose found common ground over how to make life easier for arcades.

The pair met on Friday, three days after the coalition Government announced a 2.5 per cent VAT hike that was opposed by the gaming business.

Mr Bollom said: “We spoke about how a lot of the rules brought in by previous Governments could be relaxed to help us out.”

According to the Regent Street business owner, one of the factors that could help arcades would be a requirement for fewer licences, to cut down on fees and bureaucracy.

Mr Penrose said: “We may not be able to reverse the VAT increase – everyone knows we’ve got to deal with the awful financial situation which the last Government left us – but there could be other ways to help instead.

“I’ve promised to consider whether we can slash some of the rules which are holding arcade owners back at the moment, so they can start growing again after a couple of really tough years.”