TAVISTOCK could be smelling of roses, quite literally, in the next couple of years, as a drive begins to see it become part of the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society's 'Britain in Bloom' competition.

The campaign is being led by the Tavistock Business Improvement District (BID) and BID manager Chris Penberthy wants community groups to get involved.

Mr Penberthy is urging any organisations with an interest in gardening and flowers to contact him.

'We are not just talking about hanging baskets down the high street — we want to see if we can do something a bit different but we want the community to come and work with us on that,' he said.

BID has budgeted £500 this year and next year to get things going and register the town with the Britain in Bloom competition. Thereafter it aims to plough £5,000 a year into the project.

'Over the next year we want to get people together and ideas with the aim of making 2014 our first big year,' added Mr Penberthy.

'We will be looking at making entrances to the town and walkways more attractive or maybe a big central display. Also running competitions to encourage community gardening or good floral displays on the high street.'

BID is currently progressing several ideas in line with its business plan which was voted on last year. Around 250 town centre businesses are involved in BID, whereby they pay a levy on their business rates to create a fund to spend on town enhancement. The fund is expected to be around £60,000 a year for the next three years.

Mr Penberthy, a freelance management consultant and Plymouth City councillor, who is working one day a week in the town, said Tavistock had a wonderful shop and business culture which made people want to visit it.

He said: 'What we want to do is encourage them to come more often and use all the businesses like solicitors and accountants as well as shops, showing them the advantages of small family businesses over the bigger chains.

'Tavistock's independence is something we want to play on. It does not rely on multi nationals and it offers something special in its vast range of shops and friendly approach.'

Although Tavistock does not have a lot of empty shops, its turnover of retail outlets is more of a concern.

BID will be working on ways to keep businesses in the town and is allowing £2,000 a year to provide training events for its members.

BID will also be running Dickensian Evening this year which has been set for November 30.