AN OKEHAMPTON businessman has pledged his support for the town's Business Improvement District proposal.

Alex Emuss runs Westwood Flooring, setting up shop in Red Lion Yard three months ago. The business has done well, exceeding all expectations within the first few months of trading.

He has declared his support for the town's BID, which is being spearheaded by a group of local businesspeople in conjunction with the Devon Renaissance Company.

Mr Emuss said: 'We sell quality wood flooring, furnishing and giftware, so predicting what sales might be in Okehampton was tricky. It is wonderful to see a new business in Okehampton thriving.

'Okehampton needs to pool its resources, reach out to the wider catchment, offering reasons to come to town, like special offers and raising awareness of what is actually in Okehampton.

'The town needs a website, signs in the main car park and on the A30, better marketing, more events and anything else that makes it more attractive to shoppers.'

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 http://www.okehamptonbid.co.uk">www.okehamptonbid.co.uk or phone 01837 658643.