BUSINESSES are being forced out of town by the Dartmouth Busi­ness Improvement District, it has been claimed.

Alina Trade Ltd at Townstal says it is relocating to Manchesher where it will be cheaper to operate.

The company's goods dispensing manager Gordon Anderson said: 'How ironic that one of the BID's aims is to attract more business to the town when in fact they are driving business away.'

The owner of another business, which employs 10 people on the Admiral Court complex at Nelson Road, said it was considering moving if other premises outside of Dartmouth became available.

'We have trade customers all over the UK and don't have to be located here,' said the owner, who did not wished to be named.

'All the BID is doing is paying lip service to us and taking our money.'

He added: 'It's a town centre initiative providing funding for promotional activities in the town, with no benefits being provided to us whatsoever.

'We are being thrown crumbs and lame initiatives to try to keep us happy.'

Mr Anderson said four people employed at Alina would lose their jobs as a result of his company's decision to leave town.

In an email to the BID, which he copied to the Chronicle, he said: 'My board of directors have informed me that, after studying the BID's five-year business plan, our business will be invoking its break clause with our landlord South Hams Council and relocating to Manchester where it will be more economical to operate.

For more on this story, see this week's Dartmouth Chronicle