A DISGRUNTLED resident is joining a growing band of people refusing to pay a levy to fund the London 2012 Olympics.

David Clark, 62, says it is unfair he is having to pay an extra £24 a year to help fund the Olympics when he will not see any of the benefits.

A group of pensioners has already stated its intention to withhold the Olympic levy, raising fears a borough-wide boycott could take place.

Grandfather-of-three Mr Clark cancelled his direct debit to Bexley Council last week.

Instead he has set up a standing order of £157.60 a month to be paid in 10 instalments over the next year £2.40 short of his monthly bill.

Mr Clark of Willow Close, Bexley, is now encouraging more people to join his "protest of principle".

He said: "I don't see why I should pay any money when I won't reap any of the benefits of the Olympics.

"There are other people up and down the country who are not paying towards it but may well come to London to watch the Games. Why aren't they being charged anything?

"Out of principle I am protesting and refusing to pay it."

The part-time motorcycle trainer says it is even worse for pensioners to have to pay the precept, levied by the Greater London Authority (GLA), as they are contributing towards something they may not be around to see.

A London 2012 spokesman said: "We are sorry Mr Clark feels this way as we believe the Olympic Games coming to London will be a huge boost for everybody in London and the UK.

"It will bring with it entertainment, see sports facilities improved and London will be hosting one of the world's greatest events."

A Bexley Council spokesman said: "The GLA precept for 2006/07 includes a sum of £20 (at Band D) towards the Olympics.

"Bexley Council and other London Boroughs act as billing authorities and have to collect and pass over the GLA precept.

"The council also has a duty to pursue all cases of non-payment of council tax, including through the courts if necessary."

Pensioners spearheading the fight to stop Londoners paying the Olympic levy have launched a London-wide petition.

Bexley Pensioners' Forum, which like Mr Clark is planning a levy boycott, has been campaigning for some time against the charge which works out at £20 a year for a Band D council tax payer, for the next decade.

The forum has sent copies of its petition demanding the levy be scrapped to pensioners' groups and other organisations across London and is urging people to sign it.

Forum spokesman John Flunder says he already has several hundred signatures, but believes the petition will really take off when the group collects signatures in the streets of the borough.

He said: "There is a great degree of indignation this levy has been imposed behind our backs and without any consultation."

Mr Flunder claimed people are even angrier when they discover Londoners will also have to foot the bill of any losses made by the 2012 Games.

The forum argues since the Games will benefit the whole country, everyone should pay, not just Londoners.

Forum members have already pledged to withhold the levy from this year's council tax payments.

For copies of the petition, write to Mr Flunder at 51 Oaklands Road, Bexleyheath, DA6 7AN.

By Chris Johnson and Linda Piper

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