THE most urgent improvements to Okehampton desired by the town centre's businesspeople have been revealed in preliminary results from the Business Improvement District questionnaire.

Matt Parkins and Ian Courtney of the BID steering group were at the full town council meeting on Monday to explain the direction of the BID as it heads towards a ballot early next year.

A BID is a partnership between a local authority and the local business community to develop projects and services that will benefit the trading environment within a set area. It is funded by a levy on the businesses within the BID boundary.

In recent weeks the BID team have been inviting the town's businesspeople to take part in a questionnaire, highlighting what improvements they feel could be made to the town centre to help attract more customers to spend in Okehampton.

In these initial results, parking and traffic is the highest priority for businesses, with marketing, efforts to encourage new businesses to the town centre, and improvements, signage and the town website among the other important issues highlighted by traders.

The survey is still ongoing, with traders who have yet to complete the questionnaire urged to get involved.

The final results will help to shape the initial business plan, which will then go out for consultation with the town's businesses before a final BID proposal, which will be voted on by ballot.

Matt Parkins said: 'The questionnaire hopes to capture people's thoughts and get an idea of what traders would like and need from a BID proposal. Lots of people want improved parking, better access for coaches, improved traffic flow and better access to the town centre.

'These things are clearly important to people, and while the BID team would obviously not be able to finance something like a new car park, we would look for imaginative and innovative ways to try and improve the situation in town.

'People have also said they want better marketing, to draw people into Okehampton. When people then arrive in town, they need to find their way around. It wouldn't just require improved signage, but high level IT, like a smartphone app.

'Many traders also want to build on the town's attributes — the castle, the Arcade, the park. Businesses are interested in capitalising on these things and making things better in the town.'

The duo also stressed the importance of making sure that if a BID proposal was voted for, that the scheme hit the ground running and a start to implement BID proposals made within the first few weeks of the scheme's go-ahead.

Ian Courtney said: 'The worst thing we could do is take money from businesses in these hard times and not get it going quickly.

'We need a BID plan that speaks to people, and gets them on board. We've had a hard time over the last five years or so, and people don't necessarily believe things can change.

'We need to be punchy, quick, and get the ball rolling fast.'

A BID can only be formed following a consultation period and a ballot in which businesses vote on a BID proposal or business plan for the area.

The vote is open to all businesses within the proposed BID area which are eligible to pay the levy.

To ensure the interests of both large and small businesses are considered the ballot must be won by claiming at least 50% of the vote and by the rateable value majority of those voting for the BID.

If the BID was successful, the levy money would be collected by the borough council and would be paid into a ring-fenced BID account.

The ballot is provisionally scheduled to take place in early 2013, with the earliest start point for the BID being February 2013 should it get voted through.

To take part in the questionnaire or to find out more, visit http://www.okehamptonbid.co.uk">www.okehamptonbid.co.uk or phone 01837 658643. Paper copies of the questionnaire are available.