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| Torbay Fightback activists say 'Pay Up' |
Torbay Fightback staged a successful protest in Torquay on
the 16th February to highlight the issue of unpaid rent on the
Hi-Flyer balloon. Activists gathered at
the Town Hall on the surprisingly quiet Saturday and distributed hundreds of leaflets
and symbolic red balloons. Later in the day activists moved to the bottom of Union Street where further
leaflets were distributed.
Although legal proceedings are under way, because of the
financial predicament of balloon operators Lindstrand, and the way they are
allegedly dragging the heals in the leagl negotiations, it is very unlikely the people of Torbay will receive
the missing £50k.
In he light of this Torbay Fightback ask two questions:
In he light of this Torbay Fightback ask two questions:
Firstly why did Torbay Council enter into a business
partnership with such a dodgy operator in the first place, and secondly , is
this just the tip of a very financially messy iceberg with other money owed to
the council (or perhaps we should say the people of Torbay) from other business
partnerships.
This is why Torbay Fightback is calling for a full public
enquiry, as we feel the people who pay their council tax along with the rates
some small independent businesses struggle to find, have every right to know.
Let us be honest about this, a small corner shop would not have been given the
grace period the balloon operators have, and when that shop owner faces
hardship he or she is likely to find themselves almost penniless. We very much
doubt the balloon operators owners will face such hardship – especially with friends
such as Richard Branson.
Torbay Fightback will maintain the pressure in a bid to
bring about a public enquiry and request the money is paid back.
