Newsletter ~ January 2004
May we take this opportunity to thank all of our Members for their continuing and vital support ~ and we wish you all a successful and prosperous 2004.
We hope that many of you will attend and enjoy the various Chamber events which will take place throughout this year ~ we would like to get to know you all a lot better !
We also hope that you will continue to send your contributions for inclusion in this year’s Newsletters ~ both to the Spotlight and Soapbox sections, as well as contributing any other copy which will be of interest to your fellow Members.
Please do also get in touch with the Chamber office if there are any issues which affect you and the local business community, where we can be of support.
Membership Renewals and Applications for the current year are being collated … and your 2004 DIRECTORY will be printed and despatched promptly, once all subscriptions have been collected.
Leatherhead Town Centre & District
We are delighted to announce that Mrs Lucy Hanson began her appointment as Leatherhead’s new Town Centre Manager on Monday, the 5th of January. We extend our very warm welcome and best wishes to Lucy in her new post … and we look forward to getting to know her well during the coming months.
Lucy will be keeping us up-to-date with what’s been happening in Leatherhead town centre in a regular column … and will be writing her first letter to you in the March issue.
Sadly, this is the last update on town news I shall be writing for the Chamber Newsletter. After seven years working in Leatherhead, I have retired, a new lady Town Centre Manager is in post, and I hope that I shall be enjoying a possibly less stressful existence in the countryside.
A tremendous amount has happened in Leatherhead over that period, and I would like to make a few personal observations on my time here.
I have known Leatherhead for over thirty years, but I well remember what a shock it was to me, when I first took up post, to see the state into which the town had fallen. A Chamber survey at the time revealed that 22% of the shops in the High Street were vacant and the town had a distinctly rundown air about it. Within a month of my starting, the jewel in the crown, The Thorndike, had closed, dark days indeed.
However, things have gradually improved since then, and I think it well worth reminding ourselves of the positives:
1. In the Swan Centre, the car park has received a £400,000 refurbishment and has achieved a Secured Car Park award from the Association of Chief Police Officers. Sainsbury's has been extensively refurbished and extended and has introduced a subsidised parking scheme, and the Malls themselves have also been refurbished. Next has expanded, and Boots has undergone a major refurbishment recently.
2. Despite the controversy, major refurbishment works to the High Street have been undertaken and they are now complete! It is now open to traffic up to 10am and from 4.30pm, providing a vehicle-free pedestrian zone during the day.
3. Well over 30 new retail businesses have come into the town in the last seven years, which is quite a turnaround. The latest to open their doors are Kea Jewellers at 20 High Street (formerly Humphreys the Butcher), Amethyst Moon at 1 Church Street and Ritz Music at 26 Church Street (formerly Victoria Wine), who are selling musical instruments and sheet music. A warm welcome and best wishes to all three.
4. Elsewhere, e-Personnel has expanded and moved into larger premises at 44 High Street, and Reggio, selling kitchen furniture, have opened at 22 North Street (formerly Bookworm).
5. To the best of my knowledge, virtually all of the remaining vacant retail premises are either under offer or in solicitor's hands, and by early this year I fully expected that only one small unit in the town will not have been spoken for, excluding the Swan Centre premises.
6. The new Travelodge Hotel is due to open at the bottom of the High Street in April next year, a facility which the Chamber has been requesting for a number of years.
7. The Theatre has been re-opened by Pioneer People, not just for their own purposes, but for community arts events, live theatre and cinema. So many people lamented the passing of the old Thorndike at the time and were clamouring for the return of live theatre and cinema in Leatherhead, that I find it disappointing that these events are not better supported.
8. Cannons Health and Fitness Club opened its doors for business in the summer.
I feel sure that there are very few towns the size of Leatherhead that can boast this number and variety of facilities and assets, and we should all recognise this fact and be proud of them.
Whether one likes it or not, Leatherhead, like many towns, is undergoing a fundamental change in the retail patterns, with older-style businesses such as haberdashers, dress-making and curtain shops giving way to the new breed of retailers, including mobile phone and computer shops as well as restaurants. Obviously the town will never be in a position to compete against the larger neighbouring centres of Guildford, Kingston, Woking or Epsom, but it does, I believe, still have a fundamental role to play as a good local centre, with a range of shops that would be the envy of many towns the size of Leatherhead, together with an increasing emphasis on leisure.
Before I came to Leatherhead I had very little experience of local government, having run my own business for thirty years, and probably like many of you, I was a little sceptical as to their role and efficiency.
However, as I became aware of the constraints under which MVDC operate (and remember, they only keep approximately 10% of the Domestic rates they collect, and a minute percentage of the UBR), I began to have a little more sympathy for its position. It is all very well groups saying they want more off-street car parking, but do not want any increase in either parking charges or the rates to pay for it. Mole Valley is one of the few debt-free local authorities in the country, but it is also one of the smaller authorities and does not have a bottomless purse. Demands on current spending are substantial, and with the shift in Government support for local authorities from the south to the north, prudence has to be the watchword. Suggestions as to how the town may be improved by the Council should always be tempered by financial expediency.
In recent years, the current Government has heaped performance measure upon performance measure on local authorities. This is not intended to be a political point, merely a fact of life, but one which means that Mole Valley now has to employ an extra six people just to keep pace with the torrent of demands emanating from Whitehall.
It is central Government financial juggling and beaurocracy that is stifling local authorities, but unfortunately they have no choice other than to obey these relatively meaningless paper-chasing exercises.
Having got that off my chest, I would like to conclude by thanking the Chamber for their support over the years, to hope that the markets continue to improve and to wish Leatherhead the very best for the future as it enters a new and, I believe, an exciting era.
Peter Stait FRICS - ex
Town Centre Manager (1996 - 2003)
Launch of visitleatherhead Website
Leatherhead’s new Website www.visitleatherhead.com was launched on Friday 16th January 2004, heralded by a reception which took place at The Theatre, Church Street, Leatherhead, from 12.00 noon.
If you have any queries regarding the new Website, please contact Lucy Hanson via Telephone: 01372 363652, or Email: lucy.hanson@molevalley.gov.uk.
Our grateful thanks to all those Members with Town Centre premises who bought and displayed Christmas trees for the 2004 Christmas Season. Along with the non-member businesses who also purchased the decorated trees, your generosity made a major contribution to Leatherhead’s Yuletide celebrations. We also wish to express our sincere thanks to David & Sylvia Sharland ~ without their unfailing efforts, Leatherhead would not be “dolled up” for Christmas !
Business Rates ~ Your Views Required!
Council Tax is a "hot topic" at the moment – but in the midst of all the debate and discussion the issue of Business rates is being overlooked … apart from a brief statement in the national press, attributed to a Government Minister, that "Business will have to pay more".
Are Business rates fair ?
Business rates are collected by Local Authorities on behalf of the Treasury. The amount collected is then redistributed back to the Authorities – but a Local Authority may not receive back what it collects. The Chamber has seen figures from Mole Valley District Council which show that for this Tax Year it will collect £30m from businesses in Mole Valley, but will receive back only £2.8m (9.3%) !
Do you think this is fair ? Businesses do not have a vote, yet are just as interested in what Local Authorities do – be it refuse collection, road repairs, road signage, parking, education, etc.
The Chamber would like your views. Please let us know what you think.
John Howarth ~ Chamber President
Business Link Surrey are staging the Surrey “Winning Business” Exhibition at Sandown Park Racecourse, on Tuesday 24th February. Being billed as “the event for everyone in business or wanting to start a business”, there will be opportunities to meet face-to-face with hundreds of new customers, break into new markets, meet hundreds of local companies who need your assistance to help their business grow and meet Surrey’s budding entrepreneurs, at what is the region’s first business start-up exhibition. Specialist features will include: marketing master classes, business start-up seminars, and 14 sales and marketing workshops together with a free training cinema showcasing the latest award-winning films. For information, call: 020 7700 0008, Email: hilary@business-business.co.uk, fax: 020 7700 0061, or contact: Business to Business Exhibitions Ltd., 377 Camden Road, London, N7 0SH.
MVDC Chairman’s Formal Dinner in aid of the NSPCC’s Surrey Young Witness Service
Dear Leatherhead Chamber Members,
On the evening of Saturday, the 13th of March 2004, I will be hosting a Formal Dinner at the Hayley Conference Centres Limited, Wotton House, Dorking in aid of the NSPCC’s Surrey Young Witness Service, my chosen charity for the year.
Wotton House is located on the A25, two and a half miles west of Dorking, and has only recently been opened as a conference centre. It was originally the family home of the famous author John Evelyn and his ancestors. It is a marvellous location in which to hold a dinner, and provides an opportunity to see this historic house, parts of which must not be missed. After dinner there will be an auction and then entertainment. We have obtained the services of Virginia McKenna and Amanda and Derek Waring who will be performing a revue called “Now we are Sixty”, which is based on Christopher Matthew’s tribute to A‑A‑Milne with contributions from John Betjeman, George Burns and Noel Coward.
On arrival, you will be greeted with a pre-dinner drink. This will be followed by a three-course meal with coffee and mints, before the entertainment commences. The tickets for this black tie event are limited, and are priced at £50.
If would like to attend the dinner and support my chosen charity, please contact The Leatherhead & District Chamber of Commerce for a Booking Form. Tickets should be obtained before the 27th February 2004.
Wotton House has 40 conference rooms, 110 bedrooms, and a fantastic leisure club (including swimming pool). I have made arrangements with the management so that anybody who wishes to have B&B accommodation in the house, including use of the leisure club, will enjoy a special discount rate of £85 for a double room for the night. If you do wish to stay, you should make your own booking directly with the Conference Centre, either by telephone on: 01306 730000 or by fax on: 01306 731424, stating that you are attending the NSPCC dinner.
I do hope you will be able to join me for what I believe will be a memorable evening.
Yours sincerely, Councillor David Sharland, Chairman of
the Council
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.
Ritz Music Ltd …
Joined us on the first day of December last year, and are to be found at 26 Church Street, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8DW. Specialising in the sale of musical instruments and sheet music, Ritz is owned and run by co-Directors, Simon and Debra Taylor. You can get in touch with Simon & Debra via telephone: 01372 377600 or Email: simon@ritzmusic.co.uk. For further information, you can also visit their website at: www.ritzmusic.co.uk.
Kea …
Became a Chamber Member on December 15th. Owned by Kirsty Dennis and managed by Liz Haigh, Kea is located at 18 High Street, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8AN. Kea specialises in jewellery of contemporary design, with classic influences from around the world. You can contact Kea by calling: 01372 360936, or by sending an Email to: kdennis@btconnect.com.
Image Matters/Color Me Beautiful …
Came on board on the 9th of this month. Image/HR Consultant, Ros Evans, provides a service incorporating “image and style for men and women, presenting themselves in business for recruitment, progression or job change”, and is experienced in management development and psychological assessment. Image Matters is based at 54 White Horse Drive, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7LY, and can be contacted via telephone: 01372 727570, mobile: 07779 302711 and Email: ros@whitehorse.fslife.co.uk.
The first Swap Shop of 2004 will be taking place on the 17th of February at Metro Café, The Theatre, Leatherhead, from 5.15 until 7.15 … so we hope that lots of you will take the opportunity to pop in after work, and we look forward to seeing you there. Flyers and booking slips will be sent out soon.
*Starring* … Eyes Wide Digital
Chamber Members, Ian and James Ingle, twin brothers who live in Fetcham, co-own and run Eyes Wide Digital, a thriving, large-format printing company serving the local business community.
Eyes Wide was recently featured on BBC1's “Changing Rooms”, when ‘The Beeb’ asked it to ‘Warhol’ the children of one of their featured home-owners, by producing three, framed, A1 prints to be hung in a ‘pop-art’ room. The airing of the episode in which Eyes Wide was featured has produced a huge response for the business, and generated great interest in the ‘pop-art’ pictures it produces … and you can view the results, along with frames from the programme, on their Website at www.eyeswidedigital.com.
Eyes Wide are able to print promotional material and graphics of up to 1.5 metres in width and 30 metres in length ! ~ and these can be either multiple or one-off prints … which are ideal for exhibition stands. They are also able to supply both Pop-Up and Banner Stands … which will both highlight and promote your company’s products. A-Boards and Vinyl Displays are two more products which sell well to local businesses, together with medium-run, small-format printing.
Eyes Wide Digital sport a ‘state-of-the-art’ design and photographic studio, which produces both conventional photographs as well as high-resolution digital prints. For further information, please do contact Ian and James via their Website as above, or give them a call on: 01737 780789.
Congratulations to Eyes Wide on their starring role !
Pioneer People Theatre says “Thanks” …
… to local firms for their contributions, which helped to treat local schoolchildren to a Christmas performance of “Annie”. The children had been due to see a special preview of the show, but this unfortunately had to be cancelled.
Mike Forestier-Walker, the Theatre’s Development Manager, contacted local businesses and asked whether they would like to sponsor tickets, making it possible for the schoolchildren to attend scheduled performances of “Annie” instead. The sponsors’ contributions meant that more than 300 local family members were able to see and thoroughly enjoy the show.
Mike hopes that corporate sponsorship will enable more of these events to take place in future, and would like to thank fellow Chamber Members Buchanan and Curwen, Callingham Crane, Capricorn Wordprocessing Bureau, Menzies, Soulinnis, Swan Lettings and Wing Cleaners, as well as the Leatherhead Chamber itself, for their sponsorship.
2003 Business Community Carol Service
… Hosted by Parallel Business Centres in Conjunction with the Leatherhead & District Chamber of Commerce. Taking place at St Mary’s Parish Church on 18th December, and conducted by The Reverend Paul Boughton, the Carol Service was followed by a Champagne & Mince Pies (delicious, and supplied by Harringtons) Reception at Fetcham Park House. Once again, the occasion was blessed with a crisp, dry night, and a charming Christmas scene was created by the approaches to both Fetcham Park House and St Mary’s Church being beautifully candlelit.
Eight Lessons were read, including two by Chamber Members Angela Bigwood, Director of DragonRidge Limited, and Patrick Crips-Villiers, Leatherhead Chamber Director. Our thanks to Angela & Patrick, Paul Boughton, his organist and choir, the staff at Fetcham Park House, Parallel Business Centres, and everyone who joined the congregation for making this such an enjoyable and successful evening.
(This
is your Forum: let the Chamber know how it can help you and your
business … we welcome your feedback. Or
maybe you’d like to exchange views or share information with your fellow Members. Contact us in time for publication in your March 2004 Newsletter.)
Neither bouquets nor brickbats have been received for publication in this issue of your Newsletter !
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RITZ MUSIC
YOUR
NEW MUSIC STORE IN LEATHERHEAD!
Simon & Debra Taylor opened Ritz Music in Leatherhead on November 10th, 2003. The shop is a second branch of their existing store in Putney, which has been established for 12 years. Like the Putney shop, the new store is aiming to provide an extremely wide range of instruments and accessories, to properly cater for the schools, musicians, bands and music teachers in the local area.
Our main areas of specialisation are sheet music, guitars and woodwind instruments (especially saxophones, as Simon has been a professional sax player for the past 20 or more years !).
Ritz Music offers its customers:
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• A large selection of sheet music |
• Acoustic & electric guitars |
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• Woodwind & brass instruments |
• Drums & percussion instruments |
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• Amplification & effects processors |
• Instrument rental scheme |
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• Instrument repair & restoration workshops |
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In
addition, used instruments are bought and sold |
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We are open between: 10.00 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., Monday to Saturday
Call in and see us at: 26 Church Street, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8DW
Or telephone Simon and Debra on: 01372 377600
Email: simon@ritzmusic.co.uk
Or visit our website
at: www.ritzmusic.co.uk