SIXTEEN people have applied for a seat on the board of directors of Dartmouth Business Improvement District.

Provided they get a majority 'yes' vote, all nominees will be elected on to the new board for the coming year.

But only those levy payers who applied to become BID members – by filling in a special form – can vote.

And only registered members will be eligible to attend the BID's annual meeting that is taking place at 5pm on Thursday in the Clifton Room of the Guildhall.

Outgoing BID manager Francesca Johnson said: 'We are a private company and technically the meeting is not open to the public or the press. It is for BID members only.'

Ms Johnson said they had been delighted at the interest shown from people wanting to stand for the board – among the nominees are three from the retail sector.

All of the present board of eight directors – including BID chairman Nigel Way – have thrown their hats back into the ring and among the newcomers are former chairman and BID founder Paul Reach. It has been decided to increase the size of the board so as 'not to discourage' anyone, said Ms Johnson, who will be among those seeking election.

Every candidate will be given three minutes to make a presentation on what they would like to see the BID achieve in the next year and how they intend to deliver it.

Nominations have closed for the election but levy payers wanting to attend the meeting and vote still have time to register as members by contacting the BID for a form.

The BID candidates list:

Nigel Way MBE, Royal Castle?

Paul Downing, Dart Marina Hotel

?Angie Cairns Sharp, Valley House

?Kate Ryder, Café Alf Resco?

Roger Chilcott, Town Council?

Jo Moon, Dartmouth Self Storage

?Dee Nutt MBE, NHS / Dartmouth Caring?

Peter Connisbee, The Flavel?

Fran Johnson, Reddevelop

?Caroline Drew, Plugprints

?Phil Hayward, Blue River Cottages?

Mark Simpson, By the Dart?

Paul Reach, TQ6 Marketing?

Louise Blackburn, The Crafted Emporium

?Edward Reach, Dart Gallery?

Paul Duckett, Cloudberry Digital