Leatherhead & District Chamber of Commerce

Members’ Newsletter - January 2005

From The President’s Pen

It somehow seems inappropriate to wish you all a Happy New Year given the tragic event of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean and the effect it has had on all of us.  I’m sure we have all been touched in some way and the Chamber’s thoughts are with all of you who have had friends or relatives who were caught up in it.

2005 should be an exciting year for the town and its surrounding communities.  I refer you to the article later in the Newsletter about the Leatherhead “Healthcheck” – in which the Chamber is heavily involved.  Keep an eye out for notice about some interesting events that will be taking place in the district over the next few weeks.

The town is now buzzing – Chamber Director Patricia Lawless reports a significant increase in tickets sold in the Swan Centre Car Park – and the Theatre is reviving with some interesting films and shows planned.  The Chamber Board will continue to work with the local authorities and other local organisations to see that the success of the last few months continues.

My best wishes to all of you for 2005.

John Howarth, Chamber President

the leatherhead & district scene

Swan Centre Manager’s Missive

… Patricia Lawless ~ Swan Centre Manager

Leatherhead’s Christmas Festival on Saturday 4^th December was a big success.  It followed a similar format to previous years but with more entertainments and more music.  There was a Christmas workshop for the children for the first time, and The Theatre had a Santa’s Grotto.  The general comment from the tenants in the Swan Centre was that there was a lot more going on.  The brass band was particularly appreciated and described as “uplifting”.

However, the extra musical entertainment early evening, in an effort to compensate for not being able to have fireworks, did not have enough pull to keep people in the town much past 6 o’clock, which did have an effect on trade for those shops which had stayed open late.

The Christmas Festival Committee has already begun planning this year’s Festival, and has decided that more food needs to be available … perhaps even a hog roast !

[Patricia Lawless, Swan Centre Manager – Tel: 01372 376358]

Lucy’s Letter …

… Lucy Hanson ~ Leatherhead Town Centre Manager

Work has already begun on planning the 2005 Christmas Festival as well as the various fundraising initiatives needed to stage such an event.  Following the success of the 2004 Duck Race we are hoping to hold another of these events this summer … and Leatherhead Ahead is planning a second Quiz Night following the triumph of last year’s.

We hope we can count on the continued support of the Leatherhead Chamber and its Members throughout the coming year, as without that support, it would be impossible to put on such events.

Work has started on a new Visitor Guide for Leatherhead to encourage visitors into the town and surrounding area, and which will also highlight to residents what there is to see and do in the area.

Designs for a Town Map to be displayed in the notice board are also in the process of being drawn up.  The map will have a layout of the town centre and a listing of all the shops, along with a “what’s on” section.

The Town Centre Newsletter will be hitting the streets again shortly, so if you have any good news stories you would like to share, any new products or services you would like to promote, then please get in touch.

If you would like any further information regarding any of the above or would like to find out about more events happening in the Leatherhead area please look at the website – www.visitleatherhead.com or contact me, Lucy Hanson, via Tel: 01372 363652 or Email: lucy.hanson@molevalley.gov.uk, or pop in to see me at the Help Shop, 25-29 High Street, Leatherhead.

Leatherhead Gets A Twin !

A ceremony to formalise the twinning of Leatherhead with the French town Triel-sur-Seine took place on the morning of Saturday 2^nd October 2004 at The Mansion, Leatherhead.

Informal exchanges between the two towns have taken place on a regular basis for the past 12 years, but in May 2003 the twinning committees of both towns, led by their respective ‘mayors’, met for the first time.

Since then, work towards the objective of a formal twinning has been progressing apace, and on 2^nd October, the Mayor of Triel, Jean-Pierre Houllemare and Bridget Lewis, Chairman of Mole Valley District Council, signed the Charters which recognise the Official Twinning.

Triel is a small town of 11,000 inhabitants on the banks of the River Seine, about 30 kilometres west of Paris.  There is great enthusiasm in Triel to link up with local organisations over here.  Representatives from Triel’s churches, choral societies, football and sports clubs, schools and a host of other organisations are keen to foster links with similar organisations in the Leatherhead area.

The twinning committee would be delighted to hear from any local groups who would like to join the ‘Friends of Triel’.

Following the twinning ceremony in Leatherhead, the Mayor of Triel is inviting Leatherhead councillors and residents to a return ceremony at the Hotel de Ville in Triel this spring … probably in May.  The 2005 Friends of Triel exchange visit will be arranged to coincide with the ceremony.  If you would like to attend, please contact the Friends of Triel for details.

[Peter Brader, Secretary, Friends of Triel – Tel: 01372 275862, Email peter_brader@hotmail.com]

Leatherhead “Healthcheck”

You may have seen something in the local press about a “Healthcheck” for Leatherhead and its surrounding areas.  This is a project to assess what works and what needs improving in the economic, environmental, social and community, transport and access facets of the town and its catchment area.  It is driven by communities, including the business community, and follows well-proven approaches developed by the Countryside Agency and used for many towns across the country.  The outcome will be action plans representing community aspirations and needs for the future in a form that enables applications for funds from the South East England Development Agency and others.

A representative Steering Group of 14 volunteers has been formed to guide the project and ensure all residents and organisations can have their say.  Particular effort will be made to reach those who are often neglected in general consultations, such as youth groups, the disabled and the elderly.  The Chamber is represented on that Steering Group.

Public events will be held at three stages of the project to inform people about its purpose, approaches, progress and outcomes.  The first event in Leatherhead is on Thursday 24^th February at The Theatre, so please make a note in your diary.  The Mezzanine floor will be open from 12.00 to 18.00 for you to view information displays and to drop-in to ask questions and raise issues of concern.  At 19.00 in the Green Room there will be a short presentation followed by an open forum to further identify the concerns of businesses, associations and residents, as well as to generate ideas for Leatherhead and the surrounding area which we would like to see.

Do please come along, hear what others have to say and have your own say.

Help Needed!

Leatherhead Citizens Advice Bureau needs help.  They need:

·                      People to help with fund-raising

·                      People to help raise the profile of the bureau

·                      Funds to keep them moving forward

If you think you can help then please contact Mary Douglas, Leatherhead CAB Manager, on 01372 361160.

Business bulletin

£825 Cash Back from the Tax Man?

Some mistake surely?

NO - If the Inland Revenue has classified you as a small employer (less than 50 employees) and you file your year end returns online using the Internet you will get the following rewards:

·              File online for 2004-05 (return due by 19^th May 2005) and get £250

·              File online for 2005-06 (return due by 19^th May 2006) and get £250

·              File online for 2006-07 (return due by 19^th May 2007) and get £150

·              File online for 2007-08 (return due by 19^th May 2008) and get £100

·              File online for 2008-09 (return due by 19^th May 2009) and get £75

* For the 2009-10 return, due by 19^th May 2010, online is mandatory

The year-end returns are the P14 and P35 forms.  The payroll software product you use must be accredited as meeting the Inland Revenue Quality Standard.  Pegasus Opera II was one of the first products to meet the Inland Revenue Payroll Standard.

Certified Pegasus Partner, David Finnigan of Mossgrove Wells Ltd in Leatherhead, is offering:

·        a “One-User” Opera II package … comprising of Payroll, Personnel and Reporter modules … for £834 - a 40% discount on the usual price of £1,390.

so the Tax Man will buy your software!

Please contact David at the Leatherhead office on Tel: 01372 361186

send an E-mail: David.Finnigan@mossgrove-wells.co.uk

or see our Web Sites

www.mossgrove-wells.co.uk  or  www.documentmanagementsoftware.biz

Please see the On-Line Filing Guide enclosed with this Newsletter

[David Finnigan, Mossgrove Wells Ltd]

Calling All Closet Eco-Warriors !

·                      Do you feel guilty throwing away your waste paper?

·                      Do you wish you could recycle more?

·                      Or do you have a recycling scheme running already?

If so, then we’d love to hear from you.  Leatherhead-based charity The Mary Frances Trust is looking for any other local businesses interested in sharing a paper-recycling scheme.

If you already have a scheme and could manage to take a few extra sacks a month in your collection then do get in touch.  Alternatively, if you are like us and would like to recycle but do not produce enough waste to justify the cost, then perhaps we could set up a joint scheme.

The council have provided a list of several companies who will collect waste paper for a charge of between £10 and £30 per collection.

We are based in the town centre (The Crescent) and would be glad to hear from anyone interested in helping us do our bit for planet earth.  Please Email: helenprowse@maryfrancestrust.org.uk.

[Helen Prowse, Mary Frances Trust, Tel: 01372 375400]

National Learning at Work Day: 26^th May

The Chamber has received information about the Learning at Work Day from the Campaign for Learning.  The purpose of the Learning at Work Day is to help you focus on sharing the existing skills of your workforce and to make learning fun – and it doesn’t have to be workplace related !

For more information you can contact the Learning at Work Day website: www.learningatworkday.com or you can obtain free planning and publicity materials by calling: 0870 350 2345.

If you want to speak to someone about how Learning at Work Day can benefit your workplace, then call 01823 660040 – the contact person is Rachel Johnstone.

There will be a Learning at Work Day Planning Conference on Friday March 4^th 2005 at The Conference Centre, Dti, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET.  Details of this are also available from Rachel Johnstone.

you & your chamber

New Members

The Chamber extends a warm welcome to our new Members ~ we hope they enjoy the benefits of Membership, and we look forward to meeting them at future Chamber events.

Piazza Firenze

Our first new Member of this year having joined from the very first day of January, Piazza Firenze is an Italian restaurant owned by Mr Ben Retkoceri and Ms Michelle Gorner.  You will find Piazza Firenze at 45-47 High Street, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8AG.  For bookings and further information, please telephone Piazza Firenze on: 01372 378852.

Curves-Leatherhead

Becoming a Member during the first week of this year, Curves is a ladies-only fitness centre allowing women to reach their fitness goals in just 30 minutes.  Located at 70 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7BW, Curves is managed by Mr Nakuja Guyan and Mrs Stephanie Guyan.  For further information, please get in touch with Curves-Leatherhead via telephone: 01372 388588 or send an Email to: curvesleatherhead@btconnect.com.  You can also visit the Website at: www.curvesinternational.com.

Find out more about Curves-Leatherhead in this month’s “Spotlight” section, and see the enclosed leaflet.

Scarlett PR

Based at Eastcote House, 16 The Mount, Fetcham, Surrey, KT22 9EE, Scarlett PR is owned and run by Juliet Addington and Jane Collyer, and is the latest Member to be welcomed to the Chamber.  Scarlett PR is a friendly, efficient and creative service specialising in beauty, travel and food & drink public relations.  Please get in touch with Juliet and Jane by calling/sending a fax: 01372 817133, or via Email to: juliet@scarlettpr.co.uk.  For further information, please visit the Website: www.scarlettpr.co.uk.

Member’s Changes

You may like to pencil into your  current Membership Directories the following change to details:

Interlock Computer Systems Ltd

Has undergone a change of name and is now Mossgrove Wells Limited.  David Finnigan, Director of Mossgrove, has contributed an article to your January Newsletter, which you will find in the “Business Bulletin”.

[NB: 2005 Subscriptions are still being collected … and your 2005 Directories will be printed and despatched as soon as this process is complete.]

Date for your Diary: March 9^th

The Chamber is planning something slightly different for its Member event on March 9^th, so do put the date in your diary.  The venue will be Park House in the Red House Grounds in Leatherhead.  We want to know what the Chamber can do for you – and Chamber President John Howarth will be on hand to answer your questions and report on what the Chamber has been doing.

Full details will be sent to you shortly – but if you have any questions then Email them to John at info@leatherheadchamber.co.uk.

Member Services - Mailings

You will have seen that there are three leaflets enclosed with this Newsletter – from new Members “Curves”, from The Visionary Company in Leatherhead, and from Mossgrove Wells Ltd.

If you want to contact your fellow Members by using this service then please get in touch with the Chamber at info@leatherheadchamber.co.uk.  The next Newsletter will be going out just before Easter at the end of March.

Proposed New Service – Electronic Information

As part of the drive to provide benefit and support to Members, the Chamber is planning to experiment with electronically circulating useful business information – probably from several sources.  In each such electronic CHAMBER BUSINESS INFOFLASH it is expected that several items are likely to be of interest.

Once the experiment commences – sometime in the next few weeks – we would ask you to look through the various CHAMBER BUSINESS INFOFLASH bulletins.  If you feel that none are of interest then please let us know and we will delete your details from the “INFOFLASH” mailing list.

Member’s Spotlight

(An opportunity to publicise your organisation to the Membership.  Up to two profiles will be presented in each Newsletter, and contributions are published in order of receipt.  Your next Newsletter will be printed in March 2005.)

Curves-Leatherhead

No Men, No Make Up, No Mirrors

Curves-Leatherhead opened in late November, and is operated by Owner/Manager Stephanie Guyan and Fitness Technician Kathy Adams.

Curves is a women-only fitness facility offering the hour-and-a-half workout in just 30 minutes by combining strength training and cardiovascular activity through safe and effective hydraulic resistance.

Curves also offers a weight-loss program, specializing in permanent results without permanent dieting, featuring a breakthrough method designed to stabilize your metabolism.

Members range in age from 16–65, and Kathy and Stephanie encourage them by being present either on the circuit or in the centre of the circuit at all times … thereby motivating and guiding each individual member to reach their personal potential … and always incorporating fun and humour, which encourages members to feel comfortable and remain enthusiastic about working out.

Curves currently have more than 4 million members in more than 8,000 locations worldwide and the opening of Curves-Leatherhead is another indication of Curves’ continued success.

Only one place can give you the strength of over 4 million women ...

Change I HAVE to Into I WANT to

Curves-Leatherhead is located at: 70 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, KT22 7BW

For more information about Curves, please call us on: 01372 388588

or visit our website: www.curvesinternational.com

our opening hours are

Monday to Thursday 9:00am – 2:00pm and 4:00pm – 7:00pm

Fridays from 8:00am – 1.00pm and 4.00pm – 7:00pm