Business columnist Paul Reach deplores the apparent reduction in commercial activity in Dartmouth over the past few years.

He must be aware that this change is similar to those in many towns in Britain today, especially in coastal areas. Internet shopping and different holiday destinations may be responsible.

The Dartmouth Business Improvement District plan, which might have helped reverse this trend, failed due to poor management on Mr Reach’s watch.

A majority of the town’s businesses as a result voted to disband the BID, losing Dartmouth hundreds of ­thousands of pounds that could have been invested in promoting the town to potential visitors.

While it existed, the BID declined to support the visitor centre, a project aimed at helping the town’s economy, but subsequently underwritten by the same town council that he derides.

A business forum is currently arising, phoenix-like, from the BID’s ashes. We wish it well.

Cllr Richard Cooke

Market Street

Dartmouth

Paul Reach’s column is on page 16