At Yes Hotels we have been giving a lot of thought to the Illuminations funding crisis. We have listened to many ideas, some more workable than others, some fair some not so fair.
Many solutions only really fiddle around the edges of current, mostly failing, initiatives.
After research and input from various interested parties our conclusion is that only a radical change to the fundamental methods by which funds are raised is the answer
The problem with voluntary donation schemes is that it is easy to dodge paying while the problem with more compulsory strategies is that they can be fundamentally unfair – the recent ‘Bed tax’ being a prime example!
The question is….. Who benefits from the Lights?
And the answer is….. we all do, from Blackpool Football Club, through the high street retail chains, the service providers to the local chip shop!
So who should pay towards them? …. well everyone should!
Our plan for the primary fund raising solution involves engaging all local businesses and not just the poor old hoteliers. Each business would be directly approached asking for a sum based on business rateable value (RV) of their premises. Though not perfect, this means that bigger and better located companies would be expected to pay proportionally more. But everyone would be expected to pay a fair amount.
Payment would not be compulsory but those who pay the ‘fair amount’ or more would be rewarded (tickets, seats etc) and also, and more importantly, be able to show that they are ‘paying fair’ with privileged advertising opportunities and an entry on the ‘fair play’ directory internet site.
From this site businesses and individuals will be able to chose to trade with those listed and can be clearly seen to have paid their ‘fair play’ subscription.
As a result of discussing this concept with only 3 local suppliers, an internet company and two professional practices, over £1,000 was raised for the lights in minutes! So it really could work.
Let’s make Blackpool a ‘Fair Pay Self Preservation Society’
Everyone in Blackpool and the surrounding area benefits to some extent from the tourism economy and the lights is at least 15% of that economy. So everyone should help out in this crisis. From tradesmen (plumbers, builders etc) to food and drink suppliers, from food outlets to retailers and from professional (accountants and solicitors) to banks, all must now come to the party and ‘pay fair’. There is not much point being a local accountant if there are no other businesses left who need tax returns preparing or being a roofer when there are no roofs left to fix!
We have already put in place a plan on how to make it work and I will be presenting it to the council on Wednesday 22nd September. More details will appear on this site and in the Yes Hotel Magazine due out on 4th October.
Please let us know what you think. I would be happy to answer any specific questions you may have
Mark
http://www.yeshotels.org.uk
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Hi Mark
Having read your email about funding for the lights i think it is a good idea that all businesses’s pay as every one who come through the lights do not stay in Blackpool a lot are day trippers
Many Thanks
Dave Blencarn Hotel
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