What are your alternatives?
There is a lot of talk from the Advancing Aberystwyth Camp asking the “Anti-BID” people, we prefer to be called the “No BID Campaigners”, unfunded ( refused by AA ) giving up our own time whilst doing the day job, denied access to all the information that is available to the “Yes BID Campaign”, “What are your alternatives ?”
In answer to this, does there have to be an alternative ? and does it need to be put in place by us simply because we do not agree with the BID and prefer to see an end to it.
It is supposed to be a democratic process, not a dictatorship ! We have as much a right to vote NO, as you have to vote Yes, albeit if the odds are stacked against us and just because we disagree with what the BID has done over the past 5 Years, it does not mean we do not want what is best for our Town.
“I was saying the same to a friend yesterday. I keep hearing “well what’s the alternative?” We are not voting between a BID and an alternative. We are voting on if we feel a BID is what we want or not.”
Just because the BID is in place today, does not mean it is right for the Town and the businesses that fund it, that is why there is a democratic process put in place and it is balloted every five years. It is up to the BID Team to ensure the businesses of the Town feel they are getting value for their levy each term and the businesses will decide whether to vote for or against another 5 Year term.
The Yes Campaign needs to remember how it got in way back in 2016. We hear so much about it is for the businesses of the Town and business lead etc, but back then, the majority of businesses that voted were AGAINST the BID and voted NO, it was only the saviour of 18+ Council votes and 9 or more University votes that swung the ballot in the favour of the highly funded Yes Campaign back then.
Time will tell how the businesses of the Town feel about whether they want another five years after hearing both sides of the campaign and for fair balance and a democratic process, there needs to be a voice from both sides.
