BID APPEAL INJUSTICE

News for the 35 who signed the appeal on 29th November, and the 30 who sent letters as required on Tuesday 18th December.
Christine Gresswell on behalf of Derek MacKay,MSP, has stated that the Scottish Government has no power to prevent BID registering a private company on 19th January 2013.
This despite an appeal pending !!
I received a letter dated 19th December from Kenneth Gibson,MSP in which he states that " Derek Mackay will adjudicate on this matter. However, given the information supplied by North Ayrshire Council, it would seem that the BID ballot is unlikely to be overturned ".
So, the minister in charge of promoting BID, Derek Mackay, will decide the outcome of our appeal.
The appeal referred to Scottish Ministers, but now is it only Derek MacKay ?
IS THIS DEMOCRACY IN SCOTLAND ?
I notice his remit also includes elections. What chance of a fair vote in the referendum ?

How Traders were mis-led by BID in Largs

From March to September the promotion of Largs BID was presented to those of the 90 businesses approached as being a committee calling themselves Largs Matters. Leaflets were only in the name of Largs Matters with invitations to meetings of  the self-appointed steering group of Largs Matters to discuss proposals to engender more tourism etc. Those of us traders who did not depend on tourism or cater for this trade did not attend.  When the BID plan and ballot papers were sent out sometime in September to those traders who had attended meetings, rumours started to circulate about BID. Our local paper, which does not have premises in Largs, was in favour of BID, and unwilling to allow debate. Those of us, who did not attend a meeting (less than 90 at each meeting ) and did not buy the Largs and Millport News were left in the dark ! Queries about BID were met with evasion and lies. The ballot took place with so many of us deprived of a ballot paper- HOW MANY we are still trying to find out !
Now, in a copy of a letter sent from the council to our MSP, I note that it states " Largs Matters circulated a 20 page business plan which accompanied the ballot" !!!
So. it appears those with a vested interest in a "yes" result, had control over who got a ballot paper. Yet, without proof, Ms Murray  insists we all got a ballot paper. 
No, WE WERE DEPRIVED OF A VOTE.

Freedom of Information

, Today, in response to the e-mail from Elma Murray, Returning Officer, North Ayrshire Council, we have written requesting a review. We dispute her interpretation of the BID regulations 2007 Section 13(4).
Ms Murray continues to insist that all persons eligible to vote were sent ballot papers, and yet refuses us access to the details of said businesses. I currently have a list of more than 25 who did not get ballot papers, and am still finding more who also were left out of this vote.
So much for Freedom of Information !!

Largs BID undemocratic

Of 280 eligible businesses 140 did not vote. As we did not get the documentation and ballot paper, we asked other traders and found many more traders also excluded, so asked Returning Officer for info re all 280 businesses to ascertain how many were without a vote. After 6 weeks, and 2 requests under the Freedom of Information Act, we have been refused. It appears that the BID committee are allowed to know, but not us - the disenfranchised. It also appears that the BID committee, the ones with a vested interest in obtaining a 'yes' vote, had the BID plan and ballot papers to distribute !  Well, that would explain the ballot result. 'Yes' 92, 'No' 48, and 140 left in the dark with no vote. What a shabby excuse for a legal ballot. What has happened to Democracy in this country.

Bias of local media

Our local newspaper, the Largs and Millport, only printed pro-BID statements and letters. Traders protested that debate was stifled.  For example, this week , 18th December, 30 traders lodged appeal for new ballot, yet, despite the anger in our town, this has been ignored.
The editor has castigated the 140 who did not vote as `do nothings` ignoring the evidence that so many of us were `know nothings`.
This newspaper does not have premises in Largs. Easy to be pro-BID when you do not have to pay the levy for next 5 years. A levy which will be enforced with sheriff officers by the council, which did NOT ensure EVERY business got a BID plan and a ballot paper

Traders demand electoral rights

,For me, this battle began on 6th Nov 2012 when my daughter discovered there had been a ballot for BID closing date 1st Nov, yet as a business owner she had received no info or a ballot paper.
I asked neighbouring shops if they knew about it, and discovered that day another 4 deprived of a vote. So, I started a campaign for a re-ballot, as each day I found more like us, and complaints of lies, evasion, bullying, and intimidation. We had no assistance from our elected representatives, but despite all the hurdles , lodged our appeal on 29th Nov, within the required 28 days.

Largs BID

Six weeks after the BID ballot,  traders in Largs have completed the Appeal process demanding Scottish Ministers void the BID ballot result and give ALL businesses in Largs a fair and free vote in a re-ballot.
We have insisted they prevent BID setting up a registered company on 19th Jan 2013, whilst our appeal is pending. So many of us did not get a ballot paper, and we demand our democratic rights.