BUSINESSES in both Tavistock and Okehampton are being asked to play a key role in measuring the 'health' of the towns by taking part in two surveys. The exercise is all part of a project to 'benchmark' the towns to see how they are performing compared to other market towns in Devon and across the country. The business confidence survey and a town centre users' survey asks a number of questions including how many people come into their shop or business, car park usage and what users of the town centre think about the town. It's the first time surveys such as these have been carried out in Okehampton and the second year for Tavistock which is helping to measure trends year on year. Cllr Philip Sanders, leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: 'To make this a success, we need as many businesses as possible to take part. 'It is a chance for the business community to play a practical role in gathering vital evidence which will ultimately help shape the future of the towns.'   The surveys take just a few minutes to complete and businesses are also being asked to record the postcode of customers over a few weeks. The results will then be sent to Towns Alive, a national agency which helps towns to develop strategies and actions to improve. Towns Alive will pull together all the information and compare it with more than 150 other towns across the country. The findings will be shared with the towns in spring next year and feed into a programme of activity to help the towns. Over the next few weeks, West Devon Borough Council officers will be distributing the surveys to local businesses. The Okehampton Business Confidence Survey can be completed online at http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/OkehamptonBCS">www.westdevon.gov.uk/OkehamptonBCS and the Okehampton Town Centre Users Survey online link can be found at http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/Okehampton">www.westdevon.gov.uk/Okehampton TCUS The Tavistock Business Confidence Survey is available online at http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/TavistockBCS">www.westdevon.gov.uk/TavistockBCS and the Tavistock Town Centre Users Survey can be completed at http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/TavistockTCUS">www.westdevon.gov.uk/TavistockTCUS For further details contact Robert Plumb, economic development officer, on 01822 813620 or email [email protected]">[email protected]