NO WONDER THE CONSERVATIVE SHOP LOCAL SCHEME IS A FLOP.
THE TORIES DO THEIR OWN BUSINESS IN CANTERBURY.
By Clive Hart
Thanet Conservatives boast on their election leaflets that they have 'helped traders by encouraging residents to shop locally'. So why are their election leaflets printed in Canterbury?
At a recent local business meeting in Cliftonville a discussion took place regarding their Thanet Tory 'Shop Local' scheme. It appears the Conservative administration at TDC now want businesses to pay £35 to be members of the scheme, instead of the original £25 first year cost. But here's the real rub - they also want the businesses to 'run the scheme themselves'. Yes, a £10 increase and 'do it yourself from now on'. Sounds like more of that Big Society nonsense!
The meeting was also informed that at least 35 businesses in Northdown Road alone, would have to join the scheme for it to be viable. The vast majority of businesspeople attending the meeting just laughed out loud when that '35 business' requirement was read out. 'What planet are they on' was one comment shouted from the floor.
Hardly anyone at the meeting could name a business involved in the scheme. The few businesses that were at some point involved, had apparently failed to give either the discount or incentive required through the scheme to make it work. No-one at the meeting could think of any benefits that have come to businesses from the scheme to date and the general consensus was that it was a complete and total farce.
A representative from Margate then explained that Margate shops would 'probably not be involved in the scheme from now on'. Margate had a requirement to find 45 interested businesses. The representative also explained that problems had developed with the Shop Local scheme following staff changes at TDC that had moved people into different departments and even sometimes into different districts.
That brings us to yet another boast on the Conservative election leaflet, yes, the Tories have 'implemented a shared service programme with neighbouring districts.
So no member of the Labour group ever shops in Canterbury. How childish can a political party get. Must be desperately short on ideas and policies themselves, well apart from tackling dog poo that is.
ReplyDeleteAnnon, the Conservatives should have thought about this and really practice what they preach. This really is not a good move when Thanet Press is closing with job losses. Shows poor judgement and they have only themselves to blame.
ReplyDeleteHow would Labour have saved Thanet Press? It is all very clever when in opposition but what could any council have done to make a difference. Firm's stand or fall on their own performance and the print trade has been in decline all over the place for more than a decade now.
ReplyDeleteAlso worth mentioning that the majority of Cliftonville traders were not actually at the meeting so the views of those there hardly count for much. Scheme seems to be working well in Broadstairs.
ReplyDeleteAnnon, it still does not look good having printing done outside the area when local printers are struggling for business. I would have thought the obvious thing to do was show some loyalty and set an example.
ReplyDeleteRather than worrying which printer may or may not have been used, just one costed manifesto suggestion from Clive would be good! After all, he and his team are suggesting that they are capable of directing the future of the island and yet double entry book keeping still remains a mystery to them!
ReplyDeleteOnly one thing i could find that TDC supported local business, when the offices were re carpeted it was a local co who did the work, me thinks there are links to sudden retirment there as well, of course we wont count burger vans from Anglsea [340 miles away] Ice cream vans from Coventry, all at last years big event, I counted 6 local busineses, 4 of them were car main dealers, where were the locals, not invited or as it seems the people who support our ex soldiers [British Legion}were told that there was no room,again at the motorbike event earlier this year, no local business invited or contacted, the council is aware of them, [it has to issue the relevent health & hygiene certificates}, but no, lets suck out the last few pounds out of Thanet and take it away...
ReplyDeleteI am not political, but I will vote for a councillor who supports local busineses and is able to demonstrate this,
Oh yeah , Dane Park Fountain, the grant that was given to refurbish it, i still await an answer form all political parties where is the Money, and why was it not spent, or is it like the grant for Bleak house, unused so returned, allegadly, whatever happend to the money given to businessmen regarding the empty hotel by the police station, i believe there were 3 or 4 of themm, allegadly, if my facts are incorrect, prove it !!!
AND DONT SELL ANY MORE LOCAL ASSETTS,
aND PLEASE PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE HARBOUR ARM TOILETS, THEY ARE A DISGRACE.
Oh yeah, nearly forgot, I really want yellow and white council papers to be made public, Of course they wont, it hides an awafull lot!!!
ReplyDelete