Unbelievable and I have just photographed at least 19 for sale or rent properties in the town. You guys are just what we need - an interesting outlet with lots of varied goods for sale. I am appalled your voice has not been listened to!
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
Avoch
J
John Smith
12 years ago
What a surprise, the Highland Council trying to squeeze yet more money out of local people. Maybe they should look inward and stop wasting the money they do rather than try and penalise hardworking individuals who are trying to create something.
The appeal committee are supposedly independent of the Highland Council and assessors who levied the charge, does make you wonder though doesn't it!!!
Whatever happened to local government by the people, for the people?
Don't think it's just small business having to suffer this, the assessors have started targeting domestic council tax payers too when a house is sold.
If we don't stand up to this bureaucratic monopoly, they will continue to ride roughshod over all of us.
Disgraceful
N
Nick Fisher
12 years ago
Back the independent traders!
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
why put barriers up against new small business in the city centre?
M
Michael Hodgson
12 years ago
They should be encouraging small businesses not discouraging them.
I
Ingrid Rochford
12 years ago
This is crazy, we don't want more empty shops in inverness. Less Tescos and more independent shops please!
A
Andrew Scullion
12 years ago
pURSUE THE RATES AND WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER EMPTY SHOP FOR THE TOURISTS TO LOOK AT
N
Nathan Mackenzie
12 years ago
I think the committee should overturn it's decision. They should be doing all they can to help promote and develop small local business such as those in the Village.
E
Eleanor Fogerty
12 years ago
Save The Village!
S
Shona MacIver
12 years ago
Featured
If any of the commitee had actually been in The Village they would know immediately it was made up of many different businesses working under one roof. A lovely community feel when you walk in and every trader is friendly and always happy to help.
M
Mags Ford
12 years ago
Community partnerships are important for the growth of humanity sharing and caring and The Village embodies partnerships within communities.
C
catriona robertson
12 years ago
was so shocked at the outcome of the meeting. love the village store idea, fantastic innovative concept, reviving old town, bought my recycled bike here with fab service, love the friendly sk8 store, hope to attend music evenings in futurel. hope appeal supports this, not squashes it. a fantastic venture that could be repeated worldwide. BE THE CHANGE. from a middle aged supporter
E
Eilidh Marshall
12 years ago
It's refreshing to see something different being done in Inverness city centre. The council should be encouraging this sort of enterprise rather than making it even more difficult. The Village is run by some amazing people who not only want to improve and build their businesses but the lives of everyone in the community. On one of my first visits to The Village I noticed a sign above a clothes rail asking people to not steal clothes and if they couldn't afford to pay to let them know and they'd be happy to give them some clothes. How many shops have you seen doing that? Why not show The Village the same compassion it shows others.
J
Jennifer Main
12 years ago
very clearly different small business, how can they deny you that! so short sighted and a huge loss to inverness. one of the only interesting, cultural, individual spaces in our city. inverness needs the village
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
Disappointing that this is needed where is the loyality to the Oldtown in Inverness thought our Council supported it!!
J
Jenny Stewart
12 years ago
This would be a terrible loss to Inverness. It's great for the small business owners
M
Michael Shaw
12 years ago
Come on Highland Council, do the right thing. I cant believe it has come to this petition.
L
Linda Bartlett
12 years ago
It would be terrible to lose this space in the town centre. What could replace it? It gives small independent retailers a chance to do their "own thing" instead of a national chain giving us more of the same.
G
Gavin Wright
12 years ago
I'm sad to say I've never been to The Village - I've only recently heard of it through Facebook. I'm busy up in Dornoch attempting to run my own small Fair Trade business, Simply The Best. Times are hard - for everyone. If I didn't get small businesses rate relief (which I do - I'm in a unit on my own), then I'd be struggling and would probably have to close. My sympathies are with the businesses in The Village. I keep thinking of moving to Inverness, to get more footfall; I see places up to let and for sale...but the rents and rates are prohibitive. Highland Council - for goodness' sake - please reverse this 'marginal decision' and let Inverness' heart start beating again! Let's face the cold hard facts. If the decision stays - you'll get no rates and you'll be killing a number of businesses. If you reverse the decision - because of the small business rates relief you'll still get no rates - but Inverness will be a better place and you'll be *helping* small businesses, instead of crucifying them! There's no way all the small businesses in The Village should be treated as one conglomerate - they're individual businesses under individual ownership but trading under one roof as one entity for the collective good. They don't 'pool income', I'm sure! So how can you treat them as though they do? Big businesses can pay big amounts (although less so nowadays) - small businesses struggle to put hand to mouth. Come on - Have A Heart! From Wee Man With A Big Heart :-)
Unbelievable and I have just photographed at least 19 for sale or rent properties in the town. You guys are just what we need - an interesting outlet with lots of varied goods for sale. I am appalled your voice has not been listened to!
Avoch
What a surprise, the Highland Council trying to squeeze yet more money out of local people. Maybe they should look inward and stop wasting the money they do rather than try and penalise hardworking individuals who are trying to create something. The appeal committee are supposedly independent of the Highland Council and assessors who levied the charge, does make you wonder though doesn't it!!! Whatever happened to local government by the people, for the people? Don't think it's just small business having to suffer this, the assessors have started targeting domestic council tax payers too when a house is sold. If we don't stand up to this bureaucratic monopoly, they will continue to ride roughshod over all of us. Disgraceful
Back the independent traders!
why put barriers up against new small business in the city centre?
They should be encouraging small businesses not discouraging them.
This is crazy, we don't want more empty shops in inverness. Less Tescos and more independent shops please!
pURSUE THE RATES AND WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER EMPTY SHOP FOR THE TOURISTS TO LOOK AT
I think the committee should overturn it's decision. They should be doing all they can to help promote and develop small local business such as those in the Village.
Save The Village!
If any of the commitee had actually been in The Village they would know immediately it was made up of many different businesses working under one roof. A lovely community feel when you walk in and every trader is friendly and always happy to help.
Community partnerships are important for the growth of humanity sharing and caring and The Village embodies partnerships within communities.
was so shocked at the outcome of the meeting. love the village store idea, fantastic innovative concept, reviving old town, bought my recycled bike here with fab service, love the friendly sk8 store, hope to attend music evenings in futurel. hope appeal supports this, not squashes it. a fantastic venture that could be repeated worldwide. BE THE CHANGE. from a middle aged supporter
It's refreshing to see something different being done in Inverness city centre. The council should be encouraging this sort of enterprise rather than making it even more difficult. The Village is run by some amazing people who not only want to improve and build their businesses but the lives of everyone in the community. On one of my first visits to The Village I noticed a sign above a clothes rail asking people to not steal clothes and if they couldn't afford to pay to let them know and they'd be happy to give them some clothes. How many shops have you seen doing that? Why not show The Village the same compassion it shows others.
very clearly different small business, how can they deny you that! so short sighted and a huge loss to inverness. one of the only interesting, cultural, individual spaces in our city. inverness needs the village
Disappointing that this is needed where is the loyality to the Oldtown in Inverness thought our Council supported it!!
This would be a terrible loss to Inverness. It's great for the small business owners
Come on Highland Council, do the right thing. I cant believe it has come to this petition.
It would be terrible to lose this space in the town centre. What could replace it? It gives small independent retailers a chance to do their "own thing" instead of a national chain giving us more of the same.
I'm sad to say I've never been to The Village - I've only recently heard of it through Facebook. I'm busy up in Dornoch attempting to run my own small Fair Trade business, Simply The Best. Times are hard - for everyone. If I didn't get small businesses rate relief (which I do - I'm in a unit on my own), then I'd be struggling and would probably have to close. My sympathies are with the businesses in The Village. I keep thinking of moving to Inverness, to get more footfall; I see places up to let and for sale...but the rents and rates are prohibitive. Highland Council - for goodness' sake - please reverse this 'marginal decision' and let Inverness' heart start beating again! Let's face the cold hard facts. If the decision stays - you'll get no rates and you'll be killing a number of businesses. If you reverse the decision - because of the small business rates relief you'll still get no rates - but Inverness will be a better place and you'll be *helping* small businesses, instead of crucifying them! There's no way all the small businesses in The Village should be treated as one conglomerate - they're individual businesses under individual ownership but trading under one roof as one entity for the collective good. They don't 'pool income', I'm sure! So how can you treat them as though they do? Big businesses can pay big amounts (although less so nowadays) - small businesses struggle to put hand to mouth. Come on - Have A Heart! From Wee Man With A Big Heart :-)