Yorkshire Coast businesses: 'BID needs to end now'
It's after Scarborough Borough Councillors voted through a no confidence motion in the Business Improvement District
Businesses on the Yorkshire Coast says a controversial scheme needs to end now.
It is after Scarborough Borough Councillors voted through a no confidence motion in the Business Improvement District.
The authority is now looking to work with the company to 'bring about its speedy closure'
Peter Beeforth, Owner of Middlewood Farm Holiday Park at Fylingthorpe in Robin Hood's Bay, said:
"We want final closure. We won't know the real impact on them but we've wasted enough time and energy in fighting this. We want closure and let us get on doing what we do best which is business and not be hampered by an extra tax.
"We just need to be rid of this Yorkshire Coast BID that we never even asked for. We never wanted it. We were never even really consulted about it so we just want to be shot of it.
"It's just an extra tax and we have enough tax to pay. We're still paying our normal council tax so let's just revert to what we should be doing and let's get rid of this.
"It's all about Mosaic and the BID making money out of us and this was only the thin end of the wedge. This would have been, and if it carries on, would have got dearer and dearer for businesses so we need to fight it now and end it now."
Clive Rowe-Evans, Chair of the Yorkshire Coast Business Improvement District, said: “The motion passed by Scarborough Borough Council on the vote of no confidence has been largely strong-armed by a select number of businesses in the area. We’ve been saddened to witness some of the behaviour which a number of our staff and directors have also been subject to.
“Some of the figures quoted and the evidence presented in the lead up to the decision has not been accurate and reflective of the work that has been delivered by the Yorkshire Coast BID over the last 3 years.
“In the last three years, we’ve invested £489,000 back into Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and surrounding villages on a number of different initiatives, all to promote, protect and support local businesses. We support grassroots projects like Scarborough Stories which has sought to empower individuals to grow and share their work and passion for the town. Projects such as this give a voice to the next generation of entrepreneurs and creatives.
“As a region, we all want to strive towards the same common goal – to support the success of the Yorkshire coast and better it for future generations – and this is something we should be delivering together, as a united community.
“We’re incredibly proud of our involvement in such a wide range of different projects which showcase and highlight the cultural offering available across the different coastal towns and will continue our work supporting all those levy payers who have backed the BID until at least July 2024. This will not distract us from promoting and protecting Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and all the villages in-between as part of our wonderful coastal area.”