Following a survey into business owners’ opinions on Okehampton’s commercial success, Okehampton Town Council will approach businesses to suggest establishing a business improvement district (BID) which would see businesses given a greater say the running of the area.

At the latest council meeting (February 28) councillors discussed the merits of starting up a BID in Okehampton after hearing suggestions from a West Devon Borough Councillor spokesperson. Councillors concluded that local businesses rather than the council should decide whether or not to set one up.

However, Okehampton councillors questioned how well the proposal would work in practice, stating issues of levy costs, a previous failure to set up such a district and the effort of maintaining regular meetings as possible reasons to oppose the suggestion.

Cllr Jan Goffey said: ‘I’m very torn about it. I know there are towns where it has been very successful but those are often bigger towns. We are a smaller town so I have got very mixed feelings about it.

‘I think the businesses should be the ones to make the decisions on this.’

West Devon Borough Council has highlighted the advantages that a BID might bring including giving businesses located within the district the power to decide how the area is run, allow ing them to voice issues affecting their trading and providing them with networking opportunities.

Town councillor Julie Yelland, said: ‘I would support this because Okehampton is a fantastic town and has a lot to offer. By having a BID then it would help [businesses] withdraw the extra funding and they would be able to draw down further funding.

‘We have lots of really good things that happen in the town that are really good for businesses but we need more. I would support further work into what’s involved.’

The discussion comes following the results of a recent survey carried out by West Devon Borough Council which found that 80% of those Okehampton business owners who responded  thought that the town’s environment was conducive to business, listing readons such as a busy high street, tourism, a varied selection of shops and good public transport links.

But congestion and insufficient parking were listed by owners as the greatest barrier to successful trading, who would like to see more done to resolve this.

Seventy-eight percent of business owners were unaware that Okehampton had previously tried to form a BID and of those that were aware gave lack of business support, concern over business rate increases and conflicting personalities as the main reasons given for its failure.

A BID is a business-run and funded group dedicated to improving the commercial district ina town. In 2011 Tavistock formed a BID and in the eleven years since the body has invested £750,000 in the town.