A?SCHEME to promote business in Okehampton is vital to prevent the town dying on its feet.

That was one of the blunt messages spelled out at a meeting in the White Hart Hotel last week to discuss the proposed Business Improvement District (BID)?for Okehampton.

Around 40 businesspeople attended the meeting — it was the first part of a consultation period, which will be ongoing until January 2013.

Alan Simons from the BID?steering group put his thoughts on Okehampton's situation in stark terms: 'The situation across the country is that market towns are in decline, and slowly dying on their feet. If we do nothing, Okehampton is certain to follow.

'The BID is something we can do to combat this decline, and something we should do to invest in Okehampton's future.'

But the idea on forming a BID was not without opposition.

George Mills, who runs PG Conversions in the Exeter Road Industrial Estate, said: 'In difficult times like these, I feel that businesses should be left alone to get on with it.

'I don't want people interfering in my business. It's not so much the levy or any financial implication that bother me, but the principle that this scheme could benefit the town centre and not affect businesses outside that.

'At the meeting, there was discussion of two potential BIDS, one for the town centre and one for the industrial estates. That sounds better than one big town BID, but I am still wary of the whole thing.'

Matthew Dart, co-ordinator of the Torquay and Paignton BIDs, and Matthew Clark, owner of the Torbay Bookshop in Paignton were present to discuss the benefits of the successful BID scheme in Paignton.

Mr Dart said it had helped fund new events in Paignton town centre, which had drawn people into the town, and how community benefits such as clearing gum off pavements and painting benches had been accomplished thanks to the BID team's influence.

Mr Clark said: 'In my mind, having a BID is an absolute no-brainer. It is a fair and democratic way to effectively join a club and have a direct say on what goes on in your town, and decide how you can get things done.

'All the meetings and decisions will bring together the community. A BID team is the biggest voice arguing the toss on parking, the state of empty shop-fronts, and other issues.

'Through the process, everyone should get what they want. Rules are there to make it work and it's a brilliant scheme.'

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, but is dependent on support from at least 50% of those businesses

The Okehampton BID is being spearheaded by a steering group of six local businesspeople in conjunction with the Devon Renaissance (DR) Company. The steering group organised the meeting to discuss the scheme and its potential benefits with businesspeople.

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 steering group is planning to hold its next meeting, primarily for businesses who operate in the industrial estates and on the outskirts of the town, on Wednesday April 18.

For more information on the BID, visit http://www.okehamptonBID.co.uk">www.okehamptonBID.co.uk