Gazette Business
Windermere and Bowness firms say 'no' to trade boost tax
12:30pm Wednesday 8th February 2012
BUSINESSES in two Lakeland towns shelved plans for an extra tax to fund improvement projects.
A potential levy for Windermere and Bowness firms to finance new trade-boosting ideas failed through lack of support in a ballot.
The mini-referendum of 800 com-panies in the LA23 postcode area attracted enough ‘yes’ votes to pass the tax concept, with 150 voters in 297 supporting the idea.
However, the ballot failed because it did not attract necessary support from larger firms.
Windermere and Bowness Chamber of Trade (WBCT) organised the vote in the hope of turning the towns into a Business Improvement District.
Secretary Adrian Faulkner said the result came as a huge blow to small companies.
He added: “It is with regret that the vote for a Business Improvement District for Windermere and Bowness has failed to get a majority from the business ratepayers in respect of the total rateable value. There was a majority in favour but, as we have to satisfy the criteria on both counts, the result is a no.
“I am deeply saddened at this result, I feel that we have lost a golden opportunity to improve our status here in Windermere and Bowness.
“Our near neighbours will, I am sure, take the soonest measures to get their own.”
Lakes Hospitality Association chair-man Jonathan Denby said ballot criteria had made it difficult for the one per cent rateable value levy to get the go-ahead.
Windermere mayor Coun Joan Stocker said the national financial position might have put many firms off voting in favour of the idea.
“This money could have been used to attract more people to the area by pooling money for new projects,” she said. “But you can understand why people might have thought against it.”
Matthew McClures, of McClures’ wholesale food distributors, in Windermere, said some businesses might have failed to vote because of a lack of confidence on possible future projects.
Nigel Wilkinson, managing director of Windermere Lake Cruises, said that in the current economic climate money was too tight for this kind of idea to succeed.
“It has to be the right proposal over the right area,” he said.