Yorkshire Coast BID: Scarborough businesses in court for not paying levy
A huge number of them are continuing to call the scheme and ballot "undemocratic" and "unwanted".
Businesses in Scarborough are set to be summoned to court for not paying the Yorkshire Coast Business Improvement District levy.
A 'huge' number of them are refusing the tax as they continue to call the scheme and ballot "undemocratic" and "unwanted". They are claiming Scarborough Borough Council could also terminate the BID.
There was due to be a court appearance at a Magistrates in West Yorkshire tomorrow (Thursday 9th June), but according to Scarborough Borough Council, it has been adjourned and will not be heard this week.
Harry Scott is the owner of the Delmont Hotel in Scarborough. He is one of those who will be there and he said: "Refusing to give away their hard earned money to persons they don't know and who can do with as they see fit. I must say after seeing the Yorkshire Coast BID in operation for the last three years, I'm at a loss to find anything they've done which will increase business for anyone and I do not believe it to be viable.
"From the beginning the main reason why people don't want the BID is the validity of the initial undemocatic ballot in which hundreds of people stated they never got voting papers. The council assigned an independent body to look at the proceedings and he was very critical regarding the proceedings and even stated that the ballot process was flawed.
"I can't believe I'm being summoned to court really but we're now at a place where we hoped to get justice in a court but unfortunately, we now find ourselves segregated and gagged as the cases are being heard by telephone, not in Scarborough but in West Yorkshire, and addressing the court is not permitted without a prior appointment.
"There have been many opportunities for the council to bring this to a close but they've taken the view to carry on railroading it through as far as I'm concerned. To me, any honest democratic authority armed with all this information would - and should - have acted on this but instead the council's just carried on railroading it through."