OKEHAMPTON Chamber of Trade is going on a recruitment drive to sign up more members after fears that a shortage of funds could threaten future events in the town.

Membership subscriptions are a key income to run all the chamber's events and initiatives throughout the year including Dumplin' Day and Edwardian Evening, the much-admired Christmas lights and hanging baskets.

At the annual meeting last Thursday treasurer Nigel Pearce said there had been a 30 per cent decline in membership over the past four years — from 91 to 65.

'The subs are very important to us — we still have overheads to pay even if we do not anything else,' he said.

'Dumplin' Day and Edwardian Evening are loss-making events because of the cost of road closures in particular.'

Chairman Ian Bailey said he felt it was still worthwhile holding these events from the town's point of view but they needed to think of some ideas to try and recoup the cost of the road closures.

The meeting was told all the money which had been raised and donated for the Christmas lights which amounted to £1,900 had gone towards repair and replacements for next year and a raffle was being organised to pay for the ongoing cost of the hanging baskets.

Mr Bailey said when the economy was good, the membership always went down because it was a case of 'I'm all right Jack.'

'When things are bad people always want the support of the chamber and then membership goes up,' he said.

'I would like to see every business in Okehampton being a member of the chamber — only with a strong membership will our voice be taken seriously.'

He said more could be done for the town with extra subs as all the money was put back into enhancing Okehampton.

'Putting the money in to provide these things for the town is in my estimations enough of a reason to be a member of the chamber but there are lots of other benefits.'

Mr Bailey said it was a great way to meet other members of the business community and become involved in the town.

Money could be saved on business insurance, solicitors and accountancy costs.

'Coming to the meetings is not compulsory but we have some very interesting speakers and get the opportunity to do things we might not otherwise — for example next month we are going to the Ockment Centre to learn about computers and the internet.'

The cost to join the chamber of trade is £35 a year if you have under five employees, £50 with 5-19 employees and £75 for someone with over 10 employees.