Edward Reach, of Stoke Fleming, writes:

After the demise of Dartmouth Business Improve­ment District, something positive can and must emerge out of its failure.

Emotions understandably ran high on both sides of the argument, but if we waste time navel-gazing about it now, it will do nothing but hold the town back and be increasingly difficult to overcome.

Many levy payers, who have always lived and worked here, have said they felt excluded from the BID process and the management of it, and that undoubtedly undermined it from the outset.

On the other hand, I often hear or read about people dismissing constructive ideas on the basis that they didn’t come from someone who was ‘born and bred’ here.

Fundamentally, we all need to really pull together and be open to new ideas about how to help the town flourish over the coming years, for the good of everyone who works and lives here.

Many of the same people have served across a range of civic and business-led organisations in the town for years, we should be very grateful to them for that service and no doubt they will continue to offer their time and invaluable expertise.

However, it doesn’t always feel as though fresh new ideas from a broad range of new people are either sought out, or welcomed.

Not including everyone who wants to positively contribute to the town will only harm Dartmouth now and in the future.

After all, nobody has a monopoly on good ideas.

It will limit opportunities for businesses to invest and create jobs and see us fall behind other towns in the south west, many of which welcome input from both those who have always lived locally and those who have relocated to the area.

Dartmouth remains a great town, it is up to us all to make sure it grows and thrives in the months and years ahead.