A SCHEME to create vibrant town centres through a levy of additional business rates may be spearheaded in Tavistock.

Tavistock Chamber of Commerce is looking into the idea of putting together a Business Improvement District (BID) which is managed totally by local businesses — but it needs support from at least 75% of the town centre's business community to go forward, and several thousands of pounds to get it off the ground.

The scheme is already highly successful in Plymouth. It involves money being raised through all traders in the core shopping area paying a slight increase on their business rates, thereby making it a fair system of everyone 'doing their bit' for the town.

The Plymouth City Centre Company was set up in 2005 after 77% of businesses voted in a ballot to establish the BID. The scheme was renewed in 2008 with 89% support and a business plan has been developed to deliver £10-million worth of investment in the city centre over the next five years. Street cleaners and Blue Cap guides are two of the initiatives.

In Tavistock it is being suggested as a solution to meet the £5,000 shortfall in funding for Dickensian Evening and the Christmas lights each year, and to tackle other improvement projects on the chamber's wishlist. BIDs can also attract match funding.

Chamber chairman Nigel Eadie has often criticised many of the multi-national companies in the town who have refused to contribute to Christmas events, yet they profit the most from Dickensian Evening.

At a chamber meeting on Monday night he said: 'Woolworths used to take £11,000 between 6pm and 9pm, yet it contributed nothing to the chamber. Before it closed the staff had a whip round and gave £40 of their own money towards Dickensian.

'If everyone was to give half a per cent on their business rates it would make a big difference.

'Some of the small independent shops who give to everything may well find themselves paying less. This way the big boys would be playing their part.'

Some chamber members were unsure that the scheme would be supported because they said Tavistock was a small town with many small family shops who could not afford to keep putting their hands in their pockets.

Joint owner of Browns Hotel Phil Biggins said he attended a meeting between traders and West Devon Borough Council where there was a heated discussion about business rates.

'There was a lot of heckling going on from the business community. It was the highest level of negativity at a meeting I have experienced.

'For someone to come in and say we want half a per cent extra, it would need to be one hell of a person — a Simon Cowell type persona.'

Initial costs would be between £3,000 and £5,000 to get a professional to work on the idea to see if it was viable before presenting it to the business community, said Mr Eadie.

To carry out a referendum, and, if successful, a business plan document it could cost up to £40,000. It was suggested that the town council and TAVi could be approached.

Graeme Simm from East Gate Brasserie said he was in favour in principle but it was a case of going away and doing the sums.

'The majority of our time is taken up with Christmas lights and Dickensian. It would be nice to think we had the £10,000 there to cover that. It would be done and dusted and we could move on to other things like how to attract coach parties here.'