Do you believe in coincidence ? On the same day, Friday 30th August, that the invoices for the BID levy drop through the doors of businesses in Largs (except ours, which went to my daughter`s home address), we also received a further dismissal of our appeal from the Ombudsman`s Office.
DISGRACEFUL !
However, this is not the end. We will not give up. Justice is worth the struggle. Since our elected representatives will do nothing to redress this injustice perpetrated on the business owners of Largs, we are pursuing a different method to get this ballot over-turned.
Meantime, those who did not receive a ballot paper MUST appeal - see the back of the invoice for details of appeal within 28 days. I shall be sending a letter of appeal to the Chief Finance Officer at North Ayrshire Council, and I will make copies available to those who require them.
Did anyone read the Oban Times 29th August ? Unlike our `wee` paper which none of us will buy or place adverts with due to Drew Cochrane`s decision not to print anything detrimental to BID. I am told e-mails to the Largs and Millport News were deleted and letters not printed if they opposed BID. When our protest started we were denigrated and ridiculed in `his` paper. Even our ten month battle for a re-ballot has been ignored.. How lucky are those who get the Oban Times which gives coverage to both sides.
Currently the battle is on for Living Lochaber ! The Oban Times has printed all the complaints which show that what happened here in Largs is a pattern, a BID process to gain a `yes ` result.
Of course I will contact them, so that they can be warned in time to demand a ballot paper.
I went to see Katy Clark,MP on Friday to update her on the disgraceful inaction of MSP`s and the Ombudsman, and to inform her of the anger that BID bills had arrived that day. She now realises this is not just a local problem, and is happening in England too, which must be addressed by Westminster.
Keep checking the blog as more to come shortly.
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