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Over the past year, several of us within the Against BID campaign group have been diligently researching, testing, and refining a legal argument that could have far-reaching implications. If successful, it would demonstrate that local authorities have been acting *ultra vires* - beyond their legal powers - in establishing Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and issuing levy demands.
While this remains a significant “if,” the potential repercussions are enormous. Proving this case could mean that all levy demands issued by local authorities are unlawful, opening the door for legal action to reclaim funds on behalf of levy payers and bring the BID industry to its knees!
Our case has caught the attention of a highly reputable London law firm with an expertise in high-profile class action litigation, including against the Government. A Senior Partner & Senior Associate at the firm have been reviewing our case pro bono, generously dedicating their time (valued in the thousands of pounds already) to assess its merits. We’ve now reached a critical juncture where they need to seek an external opinion from specialist local government counsel to further assess the case's strength.
Given the high legal threshold required to proceed with a class action case of this magnitude, this extra layer of diligence is essential. While the law firm has supported us for free thus far, unfortunately, covering third-party costs is not possible. The quotation for this specialist opinion from counsel is £3,000 (£2,500 plus VAT) - a fee that will provide definitive clarity on whether we have a strong case to move forward, or whether the argument lacks the required legal foundation for litigation.
The Against BID movement operates entirely without funding. Experts and campaigners dedicate their own time, money and resources to help others oppose BIDs, never asking for anything in return. However, we’re now reaching out for financial support to make this crucial next step possible.
If you’ve benefited from the work of Against BID campaigners or believe in the importance of challenging the BID system, your contribution, no matter the amount, could make a significant difference. This case represents a rare potential opportunity to take meaningful action against a system that often works against us.
While there’s a chance that the specialist opinion may not support litigation, without funding we’ll never know. This is a pivotal moment to potentially push back against the BID industry on a major scale. Every contribution helps, and your support is immensely appreciated.
To contribute visit this page: