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  • Flying flag for Dartmouth

    March 30 2014

    IT’S blast-off for Dartmouth’s new business plan to strengthen and develop the town and secure its future prosperity.
    Around 200 businesses are part of the project which was officially launched on Wednesday after more than two years of consultation.
    The Dartmouth Business Improvement District has embarked on a five-year development strategy that will see long-term investment to help put the town on the tourist map with renewed vigour.
    In return for paying an additional levy, business can expect to see an increase in income with improvements to commercial areas.
    It is believed the investment will bring dividends for both locals and visitors, with the creation of new projects, a boost to services and streetscape enhancements.
    BID chairman Paul Reach said: ‘This £1m investment over five years by the businesses of Dartmouth is vital for the future of the economic welfare of the area.
    ‘We want to communicate with all of our levy payers as closely as possible to make sure that every Dartmouth business feels totally connected and supportive of our future plans.’
    The town’s business forum-backed scheme is seen as a way to unify and market Dartmouth competitively and to realise its potential with clear priorities.
    Goals include increasing the footfall and economic activity in the town, easing car parking problems that are discouraging visitors, reducing operating costs and providing a unified voice for Dartmouth businesses.
    Mr Reach added: ‘We have tried to assess the needs of all businesses in Dartmouth to ensure people across all business sectors benefit from the investment programme we have planned.
    ‘Dartmouth is full of talented people focussed on developing their own business, but this is a chance to pull together as a team to achieve more than we can separately.
    ‘The Dartmouth BID is about working together to achieve something really special.’
    Members of the 18-strong BID management team were on hand at the launch to hear traders views on how to deliver the long-term plan and to provide information on early projects, such as marketing, cutting business costs, group buying and better signage for the town.
    Helping to capture the mood of the evening, in the new showrooms of Ribeye Boats in Mayor’s Avenue, were business students from the Dartmouth Academy, who photographed guests and recorded video soundbites.
    Mo Aswat, from Mosaic agency consultants, and Peter Smith, from London Ealing BID, were also present to discuss UK BID successes elsewhere.