Did you know that eating a mince pie is technically illegal? There is a very outdated law which has never been changed. How would you feel to get a letter through the door to fine you? 

I am a massage therapist, there is a law as old as I am, 1987 that will charge for doing body massage from a set premiss.
I'm am suddenly being asked to pay £213 a year (where has this figure come from) from Essex county council, and why now? For this fee we get someone come to our premises once a year to check it. Newham council have the same thing but their fee is a lot lower at £48, (and even if you are visiting a venue i.e. Excel)

This is for ALL massage therapists ALL over the country as any council at any time COULD decide to enforce this law. 

If I worked purely mobile I wouldn't have to pay (so the council forcing therapists to work mobile-only - forcing us into our cars - increasing our carbon footprint.
If this fee isn't scrapped then I'm sure the media would love to know why you are happy to put profits over the local carbon footprint. 

I can massage the face and scalp and not have to pay, I can work mobile and not pay, therefore this fee has nothing to do with checking my qualifications/standards/safety for myself or my clients. If anything it puts therapists (who are predominantly female) at greater risk by working mobile.

I can offer other beauty treatments in a set premises (trained at the same place at the same level), like lash extensions (with dirty tweezers) or pedicures (with dirty water) and not be checked/charged, so this fee has nothing to do with checking/protecting clients for hygiene or the hygiene of the room. 

This fee is a SCAM by the local council for small local businesses, there is no logic or reason behind it. 

What can be done to get rid of this outdated and suppressing law? 

I have 2 option wither go mobile (long term that's not good for my back) or go on benefits to compensate for taking body massage off my treatment menu, Either way, I'm not paying!