Open Letter: Introduction of Charges For Local Businesses

Dear Sirs,

I was absolutely appalled to read the introduction of charges for local businesses to display an A board on the high street outside their premises. It seems that this is Ashford Borough Council's answer to their inability to raise council tax next year.

To quote the economic deficit as a reason for an introduction of such a charge, and to mention removing the clutter in the high street, when local businesses are failing, is simply an atrocious misunderstanding of the situation.

Or perhaps the true reason is some ludicrous health and safety policy incase someone is injured. In which case, local businesses are covered by employee liability, and there is no need for funding to be added to this pot by the council.

In addition to the 50%-100% rise for market stall rents, and the ongoing reduction of services that residents see in Ashford, I do wonder where all of this "stealth" funding is going.

Campanologist Chris Cooper raised some serious questions in his protest at St Mary's Church about local government spending and the allocation of finances. As I'm sure most residents would agree, we would prefer to maintain levels of crime prevention, rubbish services and court services than invest in design schemes such as forecourt stations, shared space and converted churches.

Sadly, with the removal of the State of the Borough Debate, one of the last few remaining democratic processes in the area, means this question cannot be raised easily.

With empty premises in Ashford, the greatly reducing footfall since the isolation of the town centre and numerous empty business premises around the borough, I would think the Ashford Borough Council would be more inclined to promote local community rather than ban them from increasing trade.

Yours faithfully,

Kelly-Marie Blundell