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Leatherhead Town Centre & District President's Report Many of you will have read Professor Whitelegg's report on Leatherhead in the local press. Leatherhead Ahead wrote to Professor Whitelegg following the public meeting in the Theatre in June. The following extracts are from his reply to Leatherhead Ahead: "I am not yet convinced that there is a shortage of shopper parking in Leatherhead. The Swan Centre car park appears to be under-utilised. I am convinced that the town should strongly discourage parking for commuter purposes (in line with national transport policy) and make those spaces available to short stay purposes. I do want to see something concrete and specific that will attract more people to the shops, cafes, etc in Leatherhead. I may be wrong but I don't see anything positive and creative currently in place (festivals, loyalty card schemes, evening opening of shops, car free days). I do think we can "borrow" good ideas from other places whilst at the same time being intelligent about how we apply them in Leatherhead. This is why the Chamber of Commerce showed a video about York and I support their thinking in wanting to learn from York. I do want to see a very high quality environment in and around the pedestrianised streets of Leatherhead. This is the best guarantee of an improved retailing spend and this means keeping cars out (whilst improving accessibility and footfall)." My own feelings are that Professor Whitelegg has not fully understood the urgency of the situation: long term plans are all very well; what Leatherhead requires are short term remedies to answer the problems that currently exist. As many of you will agree, unless quick fixes are found the town will suffer even further. What Leatherhead needs is action NOW ~ not in 2 or 3 years time. On another subject, I would like to welcome Piazza Firenze on behalf of the Chamber, and would strongly recommend a visit.
From
the Pen of Peter Stait … Railway Bridges Painting work to the three railway bridges on the gyratory system has all but been completed, although a certain amount of traffic congestion was caused when traffic lanes inevitably needed to be closed for the works. The remaining small unpainted section of the Randalls Road (station) bridge is to be dealt with in September, together with the pigeon proofing, and the appropriate road closure order has already been applied for. The works to these bridges by Railtrack came about as a result of a Section 106 Agreement with Mole Valley District Council when planning consent was granted for the re-development of the former Goods Yard, now the site of two office blocks for Logica. The
Agreement only covered the Randalls Road bridge, but by negotiation
I was able to get Railtrack to extend the scope of the works to
the other two bridges. New Businesses A warm welcome to three new businesses that have opened in the town centre since the last newsletter, namely The Art Factory Ltd., Mole Valley Premier Taxis and Piazza Firenze. The Art Factory is situated at 22, North Street (formerly Bookworm) and has re-located from King Shade Walk, Epsom, bringing former customers into the town according to Guy, the owner. Mole Valley Premier Taxis is located at 17, North Street (formerly occupied by Chameleon Lifestyle prior to their move to Bridge Street). They offer a fully computerised pre-booking system and accounts are welcome. Their telephone number is 01372 379379. Last
but by no means least Piazza Firenze, an Italian restaurant, which
is to be found at 45/47 High Street. Piazza ('square' or 'meeting
place', as opposed to 'pizza') Firenze (Florence) has only been
open for just over a fortnight but has proved a runaway success.
It is run by Michelle Gorner and Ben Retkorceri with two of Ben's
brothers, Avni and Lutfi, working there as well. It is their first
restaurant venture and Michelle, who used to work for Pizza Express,
says that it has proved so popular that bookings are advisable for
Thursday and Friday lunchtimes and in the evenings. The telephone
number is 01372 378852. In
addition, refurbishment work has been started by the new owners
of 36/38 High Street (formerly Creature Comforts) and 16/18 High
Street (formerly Ashtead Travel and J.Humphrey). A revised planning
application is expected shortly for 20/22 High Street which, if
granted, could lead to an early construction start. A new planning
application with a named occupier is expected very shortly for another
High Street premises, with a further unit in Solicitors' hands for
the grant of a new lease of an unoccupied unit. Barclays Bank Supporting Local Business Chamber Members, Barclays Bank, have appointed a Local Business Manager, based in their Church Street branch, to enable local SMEs to have a LOCAL bank relationship/contact point. His name is Chris Stagg, and not only has he lived in the town for many years, and is active already in local business via the Leatherhead branch of BNI - a business referral group, meeting weekly at "The Harvester" - he is also one of the Bank's more experienced Business Managers. Aside from being able to walk to his office, his main reason for taking this post is a commitment to the wellbeing of the town and it's businesses, which he feels is made that much easier/likely when you both live and work here. He would be pleased to hear from any local SMEs, or from any who share his desire to see local businesses succeed (such as local accountants), and you may contact him direct via Email: chris.j.stagg@barclayscorporate.com, Fax: 01372 853150, Mobile: 0777 555 4207 or Land-Line: 01372 853105 (at the time of writing, this number is due to come 'live' from 31st July). As
Chris enjoys nothing more - in work, anyway - than going out to
visit customers at their premises (how else, he says, can he gain
an understanding of a business?), it is probably wise to contact
him beforehand, rather than merely turning up at his office 'on
the off-chance'. A meeting
was held by the Scrutiny Committee of Mole Valley District Council,
on the 16th July at MVDC's Pippbrook headquarters, to discuss Professor
Whitelegg's Report on The Future of Leatherhead. The Leatherhead
Chamber (represented by John Howarth, a Chamber Director), Leatherhead
Ahead (Michael Lewis and Paula Sabine) and the Leatherhead Community
Association (Joan Kirkby) were invited to attend and take part in
the discussion, in order to put forward the views of their organisations.
We will report further on the Committee's findings in a future Newsletter. Members News 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. New
Era Solutions Limited … Became a Member during June. New Era is a Business Solution Provider for Accounting Packages ~ and is based at 2a Cobham Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 9AW. You can view New Era's Website at: www.newerasolutions.co.uk. For further information, please contact Mrs Sherry Salehi, UK Office Manager, on 01372 363441. Alternatively, you can get in touch with Sherry via fax: 0870 130 4454, or Email: sherry.salehi@newerasolutions.co.uk. Carter
Fielding Associates Ltd … Is
our latest "new Member", joining us during July. Carter
Fielding, Chartered Surveyors, offer surveys, architectural design
and advice on residential property and business premises. For further
information, please contact Peter Bingham, Director, on 01372 378383.
If you'd prefer to write, fax or Email, you can do so at: 30-32
The Crescent, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8ED … fax: 07050 617970
… Email: surveyors@carterfielding.co.uk. A Website is also
available ~ visit: www.carterfielding.co.uk. The Chamber was delighted to receive a Press Release from Cynthia Robinson, Chief Executive, announcing "Disabled People's Jobs Saved at Bradmere House". Having endured an extremely worrying time for many months, and after vowing to "leave no stone unturned in an effort to find a solution", QEFD have managed to do just that ! The PR stated "… has today (17 June 2002) completed the transfer of its supported factory, Bradmere House, in Leatherhead, Surrey to RBLI (Royal British Legion Industries). All the disabled people at the site have been offered jobs. Intense discussions have taken place over the past few months between Queen Elizabeth's Foundation and RBLI and it is a very significant achievement that a viable future has been found for the factory … The activities of direct mail and packaging will continue at Bradmere House and in due course there may also be some light assembly work. RBLI is keen to build this business and will welcome contact with local and national businesses." We
are sure that the entire Membership will be delighted to hear this
news ~ and the Chamber, on behalf of its Members, sends best wishes
for continued future success to Queen Elizabeth's Foundation. In your last Newsletter, HanSam launched a special discount offer to Chamber Members during the months of June and July. Due to its success, HanSam are now extending this deal until the end of August. Any Member wishing to have a website developed or re-developed by HanSam UK will automatically qualify for a year's FREE Hosting and Email ~ which is a great saving of £100 ~ BUT, what is more … 10% of the design cost will be DONATED to the Chamber. For
further information, and to take advantage of this offer ~ which
greatly benefits the Chamber and its
Members ~ please call HanSam on FREEPHONE 0800 389
3921, or Email at info@hansam.co.uk. We
appreciate that Christmas is likely to be the last thing on your
minds' whilst you're still packing suitcases for your summer holidays
! … but … arrangements (and bookings for) the Chamber
Dinner Dance are still going on apace ~ and we now approach you
"cap in hand". We will be holding a Raffle ~ with all
proceeds going to Charity ~ during the Dinner Dance on 13th December.
If any Members are able to donate a prize for the benefit of worthy
causes, we'd be most grateful if you could get in touch via the
Chamber Office ~ we look forward to hearing from you, and thank
you in advance for your support. Letters to the Editor Members Soapbox From a Member's creative side … Has
your bank lost interest? (Many
thanks to Chris for his poetic contribution! Any other Members out
there with a literary bent? Issues you'd like to raise? … Helpful
business hints or tips to share? … Bright ideas? Please contact
the Chamber Office with your contributions for the next Newsletter
in September.) Members Spotlight (An opportunity to publicise your organisation to the Membership. Two profiles will be presented in each Newsletter, copy approximately 250 words. Contributions are published in order of receipt. Your next Newsletter will be printed in September.) THE MARY FRANCES TRUST ~ INNOVATION THROUGH INVOLVEMENT The Mary Frances Trust is an independent charity which supports people with long term and enduring mental health problems. We support people to take an active part in the local community as well as presenting opportunities for gaining education and employment. We have an innovative approach to employment which will enable even those who have the most serious problems to find meaningful work. We do this through various means from transitional employment and supported employment which leads on to independent employment where appropriate. We are a non-medical model, and members play an active part in their own recovery alongside permanent staff. For further information, please contact Hilary Kinchin, Community Partnerships Co-ordinator, via telephone: 01372 375400 or Email: hilarykinchin@maryfrancestrust.org.uk. WING CLEANERS Michael Menni has been dry cleaning in Leatherhead for over 25 years, which is quite an achievement considering the ongoing improvements which have beset the Town for over twenty years. Trading
as Wing Cleaners, he offers a Same Day Service on many items, with
'hand-finish' and specials taking a bit longer. The dry cleaning
is done on the premises by Michael and his family. They offer a 3-day Hand-Finished SHIRT SERVICE. CURTAIN CLEANING on the Same Day is available for domestic customers. For businesses, there is a complete quotation, take-down, clean and re-hang service. For full details, contact Michael on: 01372 379026 ~ address: 30 Church Street, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8DW - at the entrance to Church Street Car Park, almost opposite The Theatre. The
official opening hours are between 8.30 a.m. - 5.30 p.m., but Michael
can often be found at the shop from 7.30 .am.
DIARY OF EVENTS
Further Chamber Events will be organised during the course of the year. Members will be notified of these events by Flyer ~ and details will be also be published in each Newsletter, as well as being uploaded to the Website. |
