THE man who set up the Dartmouth Business Improvement District believes it must not be allowed to shut down.

BID directors say the organisation cannot continue because it does not have the support of the town.

But Paul Reach is urging members to vote against a proposal to close the BID company and he wants to form a new team to deliver the business plan.

‘BID supporters must stand up and be counted,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Dave Cawley, a long time campaigner against the BID who only last week took over from Mr Reach as chairman of the Dartmouth Business Forum, says the BID should go.

Mr Cawley said he was not speaking on behalf of forum members, but he personally felt it was a ‘wonderful opportunity’ to close the BID down.

Mr Reach, a former BID chairman, said the decision did not lie with the BID board, but was in the hands of members.

He said the forthcoming extraordinary general meeting was the last opportunity the businesses of Dartmouth would have to say ‘we do support the BID, we do understand the importance of investing in our town and we do want the BID company to deliver the five-year plan we voted for’.

He said: ‘I urge BID members to vote by a majority against the BID board’s proposal to close down the BID company, and I expect the current board to step down as a result of that vote.’