Freebird florist Petition

To Mike Rumbles MSP and Councillor Richard Stroud,

We, the undersigned, believe it is unreasonable to impose a 66% rent hike on the 'FREEBIRD' florist and pet shop in Alford. Given your responsibility to represent the interests of the community and the businesses intrinsic to their well-being, we request you make an arrangement that allows FREEBIRD to continue trading successfully.

There are 83 entries in the petition.
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Name	Comments
Mrs P A McClean	Signed on: Wed 03 Jan 2007 15:10:59 UTC I think the Council is being very thoughtless if they force Freebird to close.
Mrs Pat Mitchell	Signed on: Wed 03 Jan 2007 13:40:14 UTC I am writing to say that I think it is a terrible shame to put this shop in such a position. I have just moved to Alford and have found it a very good shop and very nice staff. I appeal to them to keep the premises working.  A small village like this needs a shop like FREEBIRD.
Gillian and James Leask	Signed on: Wed 03 Jan 2007 13:39:40 UTC I don't live in Alford but my mum and dad live in Whitehouse and I am saddened by the possible closure of this shop! Alford has had a number of shop closure and it's such a shame as it's a lovely village!! save Freebird!!
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Gassaway	Signed on: Wed 03 Jan 2007 13:47:07 UTC A 66% rent increase under any circumstances is totally unreasonable. No business can survive in an atmosphere where they don't know what their costs will be from one year to the next. If the council was charging too low a rate in the past, then they should be will to negotiate a gradual increase over, say, a 5 year period. Get realistic!
Brenda Glass	Signed on: Wed 03 Jan 2007 10:25:53 UTC Please try to save Freebird. Alford needs a shop like this - pet shop, florists, small garden centre plus a whole lot more!
Ewen H Watt	Signed on: Tue 02 Jan 2007 15:32:06 UTC Surely the Council will reconcider their decision to implement this steep rent rise. This massive hyke is uncalled for when Town and Village centres are struggling to stay alive through loss of footfall to the Big Majors who are now all based on the outskirks of our larger Cities! Good Luck and hope that this decision will be reviewed soon.
Marjie Glass	Signed on: Mon 01 Jan 2007 23:26:39 UTC Why should Dee's hard work over the years be lost! Freebird is a necessity in Alford.
Mr D.Kilpatrick	Signed on: Mon 01 Jan 2007 11:12:56 UTC I read about the plight of the shop and people may wonder what is some one living in Norfolk signing the petition. Well I was born on Granton on Spey and all of our family came from Elgin & Moray shire My Grandmother is buried at Lossiemouth and my father and brother still live in Aberdeen. Ist it not time for the council to stop priceing people out of busines and investing in them hope you can get it through to some of the thick heads.
Helen McBay	Signed on: Mon 01 Jan 2007 10:18:24 UTC Dee has spent years working extremely hard to build up her business and I think it absolutely disgusting that the council can even justify a 66% rent rise.How are small businesses supposed to survive when these financial restraints are put onto them?  Has this rent rise been applied across the board on all council properties in Aberdeenshire? I can bet that it hasn't!!Looks to me that Aberdeenshire council have some sort of vendetta against Dee and I think it's a disgrace after she has spent a lot of her time and money building a successful business.  Do the council want Alford and other rural neighbourhoods to become ghost towns like certain towns in my area.  I think the council need to justify their actions especially if Dee has been singled out for this extortionate and completely unjustifiable rent rise.
James Samuels	Signed on: Mon 01 Jan 2007 10:19:02 UTC Bah! Does the council not realise the opportunities in Alford? Hitting a small business with such an absurd rent rise is wholly unfair to Freebird and ultimately the village and its "hustle and bustle". Dont change the face of the village - Support the local shops and encourage their growth!

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