A row is brewing in Nairn over plans to create a Business Improvement District (Bid).
Those in favour of the move hoped the “yes” vote would signal a brighter future for the town – but it has triggered resentment.
Some business people have been left angry that they have to pay a mandatory levy for BID despite opposing it.
In the Nairn BID referendum a total of 281 businesses could have cast a vote and in the end there was a turnout of just over 51%.
The final count showed 107 owners or managers voted for BID – the equivalent of more than 82% – only 17% were against it.
Alana Boyne who has The Fade In barber shop in the town says she could better use of the levy money herself.
She said: “Personally, I don’t see a benefit for my business. I’ve got plenty of regulars and I don’t want customers queuing out the door – I don’t want the stress.”
“It is probably selfish but I could put the £200 levy a year to feeding and clothing my kids. To be perfectly honest – I have mouths to feed and that is the bottom line for me.”
Jamie Barron, the proprietor of the Basil Harbour Café is another opponent and feels that it is “a load of rubbish.”
He said: “They come out with these schemes regularly and they never come to anything and nothing ever gets done. I am down at the harbour and that never gets touched and I think “why should I pay to get the High Street painted and done up?”
“All the businesses at Balmakeith Industrial Estate said “no” – I don’t see how that works, how do they get to opt out?”
He added: “I am not paying the levy, they can take me to court and I would rather go to jail rather than pay it. Pretty much everyone disagrees with it.”
Chairman of the Nairn Connects project that worked to establish a BID in the town Michael Boylan defended the scheme.
He said: “I respect their concerns because in the past the town has been High Street driven but the BID Board of Directors will take a town perspective. There is as much, if not more, potential for development down at the seafront and the harbour area.
“The steering group looked at driving up footfall in Nairn so we looked at where the biggest band for our buck to make a positive impact on footfall in the town.”
