ONE of the main driving forces behind the formation of Dartmouth Business Improvement District has stood down. Paul Reach has resigned as chairman after selling his business D'Art Gallery in Lower Street, but says he hopes to keep links with the BID team as a management associate. Strict rules governing BIDs mean that as a non-levy payer he can no longer remain as chairman. For more than two years, Mr Reach has led efforts to build the campaign for a BID in Dartmouth and successfully led the group through the formation of a proposal, business plan and finally the vote. 'My aim was to consult businesses and develop a business plan they could vote for, which they did, and then build a company with a management team which can deliver the BID,' he said. 'We have now recruited a management company that is well placed to deliver those commitments.' He added: 'It has taken a massive amount of time and effort to get to this stage and I hope to be able to rest and relax a bit more and enjoy the town that I have worked so hard to help.' A poll of business rate payers went through successfully at the end of last year, garnering more than 64 per cent of the voting numbers and 74 per cent of the rateable value supporting the business plan. Since then Mr Reach has set up the BID company, established the board of directors and recruited the BID manager to deliver the business plan.

For the full story see this week's Dartmouth Chronicle