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19
Oct 2021
Knaresborough chamber president hits out at 'anti-BID activists'
Steve Teggin has criticised "anti-bid activists" as he steps down as president of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade.
In a letter he described as "frank and honest" to businesses ahead of the chamber's AGM tomorrow, Mr Teggin said he felt "totally shamed and embarrassed" by the activists in the wake of the vote against setting up a Business Improvement District.
He said he had "failed" the town by not delivering the BID and said a small minority opposed to it had infected others.
The letter said:
Mr Teggin, who has been chamber president since 2015 and a member since the 1970s, said he had delayed his retirement as president in the hope of helping to establish a BID and securing a "great trading future" for Knaresborough.
Instead he said he would leave the chamber "with a divided business community who will have no representation for the whole of the businesses in our town."
80-73 votes against BID
The vote to create a BID, which would have seen businesses pay a compulsory levy to support initiatives that increased footfall in the town, was lost by 80 votes to 73. Harrogate and Ripon traders have both voted in favour of setting up BIDs.
The benefits of a BID, said Mr Teggin's letter said, would have included:
He said the voices of those against it were louder than those in favour and other businesses were taken in by them. He added:
"Not the way to bring the town together"
Natalie Horner, from printers Sid Horner and Son, had previously raised concerns about the BID. In response to the letter she said:
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Ian Gill, owner of independent bar Six Poor Folk, said:
Mr Teggin had been due to retire two years ago but stayed on during the pandemic, but now, at 67, he said he felt it was the right time to step down.
He insists he will still be involved in the town and the Chamber but will take on a "behind the scenes" roll.
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