WITH the most successful ever Dickensian night under its belt and the appointment of a manager, the Business Improvement District (BID) team for Tavistock is determined to take the town's shopping experience and commercial success to a new level.

It is estimated that the late night shopping event, which incorporated the switching-on of the Christmas lights and a host of Victorian and traditional Christmas entertainment, attracted more than double the amount of people who came last year.

Dickensian Evening, formerly organised by the Tavistock Chamber of Commerce, was the first event for BID since it was set up in September.

Town centre businesses voted earlier this year to go-ahead with the scheme, which involves around 300 firms paying a levy on business rates and being in control of a business plan to enhance the commercial centre.

Chairman of BID Phil Biggin said it was almost impossible to move for people in the town on Friday night.

He said: 'It was packed — a really big success.

'The marketing further afield and planning played a part in this and the depth and breadth of what Lisa Wadling did as co-ordinator.

'It was also down to a fundamental understanding of what the board of directors and the levy members thought was needed.

'BID has got off to a great start with Dickensian but we know there is a lot more to deliver.

'All the board members are 100% committed and we are delighted to welcome Chris Penberthy as BID manager, who has a number of success stories to bring to the table working with small and large organisations from charities to commercial entities.'

Mr Penberthy is a freelance management consultant and Plymouth City councillor who has been involved in two Plymouth BIDs, one successful and one in progress for the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership.

He was project manager for the successful merger of three national volunteering charities which have a combined budget of £8-million a year and is well experienced in the minefield that is grant funding.

The Tavistock BID levy is expected to bring in £60,000 a year for the next three years from town businesses but the BID manager will be working hard to secure additional resources to deliver the best for Tavistock.

He told the Times this week that he thought Dickensian evening was amazing and he wanted to build on that.

'I know Tavistock well. I think it is a fantastic place and it still retains a very local feel in the fact that it has so many independent traders and is not a town that has been taken over by multi national chains,' he said.

'It has a great food culture and is a beautiful town. It has so much history and wonderful architecture and is the gateway to the World Heritage Site and Dartmoor.'

Mr Penberthy said he would be working very hard on his one day a week in Tavistock.

'It's important the money is spent on delivering improvements not salaries,' he said.

'We are looking at launching a new website in the new year, encouraging people to shop local, getting Tavistock in the Britain in Bloom competition and resolving some parking issues to try and get more people to shop here.'