Seems Barrow BID businesses are of the view that disabled blue badge parking on double yellow lines in the town is a nuisance, so have written to the Council to recommend restricting it! Are the businesses of Barrow really this callous, or it it just a few that have decided this and think they are speaking for the town? It’s a disgrace and highlights the problem of BIDs trying to manage the public realm, without a care in the world for others, in particular those less fortunate. The Barrow BID Board should resign immediately for their discriminatory actions, poor judgement, dispassionate approach and consequently the disrepute they’ve brought on the good businesses of Barrow.
BID’s are not truly democratic, they are central government and local authority backed business rate schemes they want forced in at any cost. The whole BID development and ballot process is set up in favour of trying to gain a YES vote whilst disadvantaging voting businesses that don’t really want a BID. For “NO vs YES” campaigns it really is a “David vs Goliath” battle!
Read MoreThe Chief Operations Officer of The Fitzrovia Partnership Business Improvement District in the London Borough of Camden is a convicted fraudster. He commited this fraud whilst employed by the BID in 2010, found guilty in Court in 2011, and the BID and council has turned a blind eye to this day! How many other BID's have benefit cheats and fraudsters working for them, with BID Birectors and Councils turning a blind eye?
Read More“We were attracted by the idea that BIDs should be replaced with community improvement districts.” House of Commons housing, communities and local government committee, 2019. This is recognition that BIDs are not fit for purpose and behind the times for current (and future) thinking for how town centres and high streets can thrive going forwards.
Read MoreBID companies are private limited companies that can do what they want with a lack of financial transparency and accountability. The intention of BID was for local businesses to improve their situation together, not for a small minority to make unilateral decisions affecting hundreds of others, without any true accountability for their actions.
Read MoreDid you know that many BID companies have carte blanche power to gamble your levy funds on the stock market as they feel fit?
Read MoreA BID is a private tax club, and if you don’t pay, you don’t get a say! BID proposers will say that all businesses within their area are important to them to develop the district, but fact is it’s a private paid for tax club, that not all businesses in a BID area are automatically invited into.
Read MoreUnfortunately BIDs divide opinion and create resentment amongst voters quite easily, and it’s a shame they are divisive in this way when BID’s are meant to bring the business community together.
Read MoreHere’s a good explainer of what a BID really is, with some home truths that BID proposers don't like to share!
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