Sheds, business rates and birds

A terrible story by Gary Cleland in today's Daily Telegraph about the problems of sheds and business rates. Essentially, pigeon fanciers have been told they will have to pay business rates because their pastime is not a recognised sport. Here's what Cleland says:

"Pigeon fanciers will be forced to pay rates on the shed where they store their race baskets, because the fact that they are not officially recognised as a sports club means do not qualify for business rate relief. Sports club can formally apply for dispensation of 80 per cent from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and then to their local authority for 20 per cent. A spokesman for HMRC said that pigeon racing was not listed as one of the sports eligible for business rates relief under the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme."

Bonkers.