I AM struggling to find any logic to support the Andover Bid scheme.

For anyone not familiar with the ‘Bulldozed Into Debt’ scheme, it has been organised by a few business owners who wish to represent the 252 businesses within an area decided by themselves, regardless of how many agree or vote to be represented.

As an independent small business owner in Andover for 42 years, I wish to stay independent and not be bulldozed into parting with 1-2 per cent of extra business rates to go into a pot of money for others to decide where my share of this money goes!

I do not like committees, especially those who have a five year life span in which committee members can easily mess up and leave without consequence to themselves having wasted mine and others money!

I do not belong to or support organisations, clubs or cabinets who seek to dictate!

I am a small independent business man who pays his dues where necessary; rent, business rates in the past, wages, stock, etc and what money I have at the end, I use how I feel it will improve my business!

What right has anyone to say, if I give them some money, they know better than me to make my own business better? Is it because they run bigger businesses? Or is it because they have been in business in Andover longer than me? I think not!

Do they honestly believe TVBC will just let them railroad their ideas through without permission of the cabinet? Evidently, as I understand, if only four business people go to the poll, and three vote yes. It will be implemented!

Anyone going to tell them this is bad times for businesses in Andover and handing over our money will not help.

More importantly, obviously it’s a problem getting new businesses to open in Andover because of the overheads, and now they will have to add the BID (Business Improvement District) levy to it.

How does that make sense?

Ron Wood, Bridge Street, Andover

Editor’s note: For the sake of clarity, only businesses with a rateable value of more than £10,000 will be subject to a charge under a BID so not all businesses will be subjected to the fee