'VE just been reading the article about Salisbury Traders and the BID mandatory payments, in your September 18 edition and feel compelled to write my first ever letter to the paper in reply.

I'm actually struggling to believe that one body of people can be so ironically idiotic. Surely that article is a joke!?

Is it realistically possible that the same council that introduces a mandatory charge for businesses already struggling in the town (with rates that are closing shops at the rate of near one a week, it seems) – can be the same council charging the enforced members in the guise of a “business improvement plan”?

Is it me or does that not make any sense, increasing costs in order to increase business in our city?

Then the small article below goes on to explain what the BID so far has achieved – which is essentially nothing of any use other than employ two positions which, again, I cannot entirely believe are true nor that my taxes are being spent in this area.

What salary does a “City Ranger” and an “Evening Economy Manager” command, I ask? I have never heard anything more ridiculous and would really hope someone from the council is reading this and will reply.

The population of Salisbury, especially those engaged in business, trying to thrive and, at the end of the day, boost the appeal in trade and visitor numbers to the town as well as make a living for themselves, have now seriously had enough.

I work as an operations manager for a technology company – and I know for sure that if I did the job of some of these councillors half as badly as they seemingly get away with, I would expect to be dismissed. This is an elected body of people that ought to help, not hinder, local people.

Fortunately I am an employee of a US-based company.

I do my job, they pay my salary – and Salisbury provides me with what I need in terms of its larger retail outlets and some of the more quirky smaller ones. There is no way on God’s earth I'd be considering opening an independent store of any kind in this city when all I read is how hard and challenging the council makes it.

Simon Harper

Salisbury