Let’s Kick Out Minehead BID this year!

Vote NO to Minehead BID (Business Improvement District), it’s not fit for purpose and an unnecessary tax on the businesses of our lovely town. It's had 5 years to prove itself as the great investment they promised us, but has failed demonstrate this so not worth throwing good money after bad.

If you would like to contact the Kick Out Minehead BID campaign team email us.

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THIS IS WHY BUSINESES ARE VOTING NO BID

There are just so many reasons businesses are voting NO to Minehead BID, here are a few:

• BID have had 5 years to prove BID works for Minehead but it's failed, so why waste more money?

• If BID is to benefit Minehead as a whole, why aren't all Minehead businesses paying? It's not fair, why should the tax burden fall on some Minehead businesses and not others?

• Businesses feel they get no financial benefit or return from it, so it's nothing more than another tax.

• There are a number of provable lies in the business plan, the most audacious being the claim that without BID, £135,000 additional funding wouldn’t have been secured for Minehead. This proves they can’t be trusted and we can’t believe what is written in the business plan.

• BID say they are acting on our behalf but they don't even want feedback or listen to us levy payers.

• They have failed to deliver on promises in their 2018 business plan, proving the document was not legally binding (as they told us) and so nothing more than 'pie in the sky' promises for votes.

• BID has brought division and angst to our lovely town, none of which we need.

• BID money is being used to pay for things the Councils should (and used to) pay for.

• The high number of councillor attendance and influence at BID Board meetings is just too much.

• Because we have a BID we get less from the Councils, and BID gives too much of our money to the councils, why? The BID has made payments to the Councils of over £100,000!

• BID are happy for levy payers to be taken to court and have bailiffs sent around to homes for not paying for a service they don't want.

• Poor financial management and decision making, squandering money.

• Reputational problems exhibited by BID, poor communication, unwillingness to engage with levy payers, lack of transparency, undemocratic practises, a poor reballot consultation, and the telling of mistruths in an attempt to sway voters.

• We are lucky to have other external investment and organisations that do the same as BID like the Enterprising Minehead Fund, Minehead Coastal Community / MCDT resources, a Town Council, a District (soon to be County) Council, Tourist Information Centre and Chamber of Commerce etc. So why pay for duplication of effort and for more 'investment' that is not needed. There are alternatives!

After nearly 4 years and c£400,000+ taken from the pockets of us Minehead businesses, can you really look back and say it's been a great investment because my business is seeing tangible benefits and I'm more profitable because of BID? It's an extra tax we just don't need.

As BID tax payers we deserve better, whilst the Councils are neglecting their responsibilities and laughing all the way to the bank.  We don’t need another 5 years of this extortion when there are alternatives.

Vote NO to end the BID stealth tax.

Vote NO to Kick Out Minehead BID.