The first few objectors have begun to receive demands from Bexley Council to pay up or face legal action.
But campaigners are refusing to hand over the 38 pence per week which constitutes the Olympics levy and some say they’re even prepared to go to jail in protest.
John Flunder from the Bexley Pensioners Forum is heading the protest. He and the Forum have already collected around 7000 signatures in a petition. He is now preparing for his members to fight the tax in court.
“We are fighting in the only way we can. Our elected MPs haven’t stood up for us so we have to do it ourselves, “ Mr Flunder said.
 | | John Flunder |
Their main objection is why should it be just Londoners who fund the Olympics. They claim the cost should be spread across the whole of the UK as all of Britain will benefit from the Games.
The final costs for the 2012 Olympic Games are yet to be confirmed. It’s a matter of huge contention. Initial assessments put the costs at £2.35 billion but it being reassessed and there have been recent reports of a possible price tag of £10 billion.
A spokesperson for Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport. Tessa Jowell dismissed that figure as speculation but told BBC London. “We are working hard to get to the final figures and we expect to announce them soon.
“We can guarantee the games will be of maximum benefit to London and it will be the most cost-efficient Games.
“We understand people have concerns, that is why we have been transparent over the costs.” London Mayor Ken Livingstone set the amount for the London contribution and has pledged under his leadership it won’t go up.
He told BBC London: "Only the elected Mayor can raise the London council tax precept and as I have said time and time again I will not ask Londoners to pay a penny more than the 38p a week that the average council tax payer is currently contributing towards the 2012 Games.” | "The tax is unfair and we refuse to pay it." | | John Flunder |
"The Olympic funding package is a very good deal for the whole of London, including Bexley. For every £1 contributed in Council Tax Londoners will get at least an additional £7 invested from the National Lottery, other government and private sector money.
“And the whole of London will benefit in additional economic growth, more jobs, extra affordable housing and new transport links right across the capital. I have guaranteed as long as I am Mayor there will not be a further call on the Council Tax to pay for the Olympics." Leader of Bexley Council Cllr Ian Clement told BBC London: “While I support those who feel that London's Council Tax payers should not bear the cost of the Olympics in this way, I do not support the campaign for the non-payment of taxes on the grounds that this is morally wrong. "The direct benefits to Bexley from the Olympics are few, but we have been working with local businesses to encourage them to take advantage of the opportunities it offers and we have submitted two bids to host pre-games training camps.
"The Council collects the Olympic levy on behalf of the Greater London Authority and has no control only the amount collected or how it is spent.
"The Council is required to hand over to the GLA all its share of the Council Tax bills. If people do not pay the levy, Bexley will be left out of pocket, rather than the Mayor." | 
