A STUDY carried out last November into the health of Tavistock town centre has revealed businesses are struggling to survive, with many worried about high shop rentals and competition from the internet and other locations.

Parking and its cost is also a major concern.

The findings will feed into a wider initiative where similar data nationwide will be compared, so Tavistock can gauge how it measures up with other market towns.

Nearly two thirds of independent retailers who took part in a survey experienced a downturn in profits over the past year.

The initial findings reveal that the finance and professional services sector is faring better than the retail sector.

Overall, a third of businesses saw turnover and profits improve.

More than half did not expect things to improve over the next 12 months.

However, the findings revealed that only six percent of shops in the Tavistock Business Improvement District (BID) area are empty, which is about half the national figure.

Thirty six town centre businesses took part in the survey. 

West Devon Borough Council undertook 11 different studies and surveys as part of a bench-marking project aimed at finding out how well the town is doing.

Cllr Robert Oxborough, the borough council's community services chairman, said: 'It is important to measure how we are performing compared to other towns.

'We look forward to receiving the more detailed information later this year.

'Meanwhile, this will help us plan improvements and bring forward ways of helping local businesses to perform better in future.'

The research also revealed that car parking is a central issue for both businesses and town centre users.

Both groups said the cost and lack of car parking was a key concern.

However, the study revealed that of the 600 parking spaces within five minutes' walk of the town centre, at least one in three was available at any given time.

It also showed that for the free on-street parking spaces, which number nearly 200, one in 20 was available at any given time.

As part of the project, 105 forms were completed on the street and online as part of a town centre users survey.   

Shoppers were asked how far they travelled to get to Tavistock with one in four customers coming from more than thirty minutes' drive away and a significant number of those being overseas visitors.

Shoppers said they would like to see improved cultural and leisure facilities in the town centre, better transport links and a greater range of shops.

Funding for the project was provided through the Tavistock Town Team and the borough council.

Full survey results, including comparisons with other market towns across the country, will be available in the spring.

For more information about the bench-marking project contact Robert Plumb at the borough council on 01822 813600 or email [email protected]">[email protected]