AN OKEHAMPTON businessman has declared his support for the town's proposed Business Improvement District.

Nils Westman runs Studio OK, a firm of chartered architects and sustainability consultants based in Okehampton since 2000.

The business was relocated from Exeter when Mr Westman, himself a chartered architect, had been commuting from Exeter to Okehampton for three years, and decided to cut fuel costs and save himself time travelling to and from work.

Having worked as part of the BID team for several months, Mr Westman feels the BID could not only benefit his own firm, but the entire business community in the town centre

He said: 'I have discovered that clients were prepared to visit me in Okehampton because of the excellent road links, and the broadband service here helps the practice to communicate easily with our clients and contractors, including the use of video conferencing.

'I feel the BID will be of particular benefit to my firm, a service-orientated company, because it proposes to improve the marketing strategy for Okehampton, including the moor and castle.

'The BID organisation could also have a function as a lobbying group for super-fast broadband, and obtaining grant funding to match the input from the business rate payers.

'It is clear that the council are not in a position to help during the current economic climate, and we therefore need to collaborate as a business community to improve our lot.

'I feel the BID is the best way to do that. The sustainability of the town can only be secured if local people and businesses work together to ensure a prosperous future.'

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.

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 scheduled to take place in January 2013, with the earliest start point for the BID being February 2013 should it get voted through.

For more information visit the website http://www.okehamptonbid.co.uk">www.okehamptonbid.co.uk or phone 01837 658643.