Gordon Anderson, of Alina Trade Ltd, Nelson Road, Dartmouth, writes: Small businesses in Dartmouth have been forced to pay a levy of £150pa by way of threats that, if we didn't cough up, our credit rating will be ruined, court summonses issued and bailiffs sent in, as has already happened in the market square. The Dartmouth Business Improvement District board of directors will amass an income of £955,000 – over 50 per cent more than Falmouth, which is four times larger than Dartmouth – for its five-year budget. The Dartmouth BID board intends to profligately spend 80 per cent of this enormous income on projects that will not benefit small businesses in the surrounding hinterland one iota. Privately, I'm told repeatedly by board members that 'we've got to spend this money'. In times of severe austerity, with deflation reigning, to saddle small businesses with yet another overhead is contrary to central government's strategy of supporting small businesses with less than £5,000 rateable value with 100 per cent relief. Falmouth exempts its equivalents from its levy, as well as other businesses in its hinterland that are deemed not to be beneficiaries of its BID. When we took up our lease from South Hams Council 15 months ago, it was marketed as having 100 per cent rate relief and no mention was made of the existing levy. Not only were we not informed, but we had no consultation and no vote on the matter – only the above-mentioned threats if we didn't pay. Our business has its HQ in Manchester, where operating costs are far more economical. Our business is 99 per cent nationwide and our dispensing unit can be located anywhere in the country. It is only located in Dartmouth because I insisted that local people should benefit from employment, since the original idea for our business was conceived and tested here. Expensive these days, having a social conscience. My board of directors quite rightly wants to relocate our dispensing unit elsewhere and we are not the only small business doing so. There are units available at Halwell, Tor Quarry and Churstow. Will the Dartmouth BID board of directors find alternative employment for our local staff, who will certainly not be able to survive on diminishing state benefits this winter. More clients for the food bank. Totally counterproductive. I thought the BID was all about improving local people's prospects, not destroying them. I have corresponded with our MP, the secretary of state for communities and the prime minister to see if they will live up to their pre-election ­assertion that 'small businesses are the backbone of our country and will be supported to the hilt'. Intervention is needed to rectify a very poor state of affairs. We shall see. All us levy payers get at ­public meetings is that it was the previous regime's fault, the board directors are too busy dealing with the demands of their own businesses and that nothing in the plan can be changed as it's all enshrined in law. Utter hogwash. Falmouth altered its development plan in relation to geographical boundaries, exemptions and levy charges on a show of hands at a meeting of members without any additional costs. Falmouth is also able to employ two full-time workers to implement its strategy. No wonder the Falmouth BID board was re-elected for a second five-year term with a 50 per cent increase in the 'yes' vote. The previous Dartmouth BID regime showed a boundary map to the ­businesses at Jawbones Hill, explaining this area was not included, only to alter this later to include all businesses in the TQ6 postal district. The previous regime also altered the levy fee spuriously from £100 to £150, claiming it was printing error. So alterations can be made to the Dartmouth BID. Falmouth has harmony, whereas Dartmouth has discord. If Dartmouth BID board directors feel it's too hot in the kitchen then get out and let someone else do the ­cooking. After all, you are spending our money. I've given Dartmouth BID as many positive contributions as criticisms and my final positive contribution is that an extraordinary ­general meeting be called for a review of the geographical boundary area, appropriate exemptions and a more sensitive sliding scale of fees. You can do this legally. You have a huge income to afford change and precedent shows that it can be done quite easily. If you have an ounce of ­acumen among your ranks, you should take this path to achieving much greater credibility among the local community, rather than being constantly 'bashed' for your failings.