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TWBC Grant
(2nd February 2010)
At the last WBA meeting it was mentioned by Daryl Jones from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council that grants can be made available to towns for projects to be carried out that will benefit the towns' tourism figures etc. I will be meeting with Howard Cox and the Parish Council within the next few days to discuss this and would really like your initial ideas on this scheme so that we have an idea of what thoughts to discuss and so that we can arrange a group meeting with everybody interested to help. As with all the WBA meetings and events, we need everybody's support to make it a real working association, so please take a minute to email me and let me know how you think we could use this to benefit Cranbrook.
WBA Launch Presentation
(Thursday 29th January 2010)
The WBA are holding a launch event for the refreshed business association. This is to take place on Tuesday 16th March at 6pm at Angley School. It will be a great chance for you to see what the Weald Business Association has to offer businesses and its strong objectives to really strengthen Cranbrook businesses. For the success of the WBA to rise, and in turn for your businesses to gain more from the association, it is important that you attend and offer your support. Please invite all business owners you know from the TN17 and TN18 area as this is an event not to be missed. The higher the attendance, the higher the success of the WBA and your business. Please email contact@wealdbusinessassociation.co.uk if you require further information. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Cranbrook Late Night Shopping
(15th December 2009 15:53)
Many thanks to everybody who helped with the Christmas late night shopping evening - namely Debbie Wilkes, Nita Chandler, Val Mummery, Julie-Ann Angel and Coral from CPC. Also a great thanks to our Father and Mother Christmas, Donald Wills and Diane Mills. The evening was a great success. Despite some shops having to cope with a power cut, the Christmas spirits remained high and the evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The turnout in our typical miserable weather was high with the shops and streets being busy and the stalls successful. Thanks again to everybody involved and to those who visited.
Email from Tom Marchbanks, BBC Current Affairs
(11th December 2009 08:34)
BBC2 is making a documentary with Ann Widdecombe (MP for Maidstone and the Weald). The documentary is looking at ways politicians can re-engage voters in politics. One of the ways we are looking at is giving people more of a say in the things that affect their lives. As part of this we have set up a website with Ann Widdecombe, which aims to reach out to her constituents and give them a say (by voting online) in what Ann does. She won't necessarily do exactly what all her constituents want but will take on the views they express when she decides how to act as an MP. I should also add that this is not a party political programme we are also working with other parties.
We are hoping to hear the views of shopkeepers in her constituency to find out what pressures they are under in terms of running a business.
How is your business doing in the current climate? What are the issues impacting on your business? How could Ann help in addressing your concerns?
If you would like to speak to us, to help us understand what it's like running a shop in Maidstone and the Weald please contact me on the number below. Additionally we would also like to encourage you to visit the website below and put in a petition about something you' re concerned about - this might be the pressures of running a business or something non-retail related.
Finally we would like to offer you the opportunity to put your concerns to Ann personally at a public meeting on the 14 Dec in Sessions House in Maidstone.
There is not time long to tell Ann about your concerns so we would urge you to visit the website or speak to us as soon as you have a moment. Here is a link to the website www.widdecombepp.com.
Tourism Forum Disbanding!!!
(7th December 2009 15:46)
Cranbrook Tourism Forum needs your help!!! The Tourism Forum for Cranbrook will be disbanding after Tuesday’s meeting. Christina Avery and Ann Starkey are standing back due to other commitments and TWBC are not replacing Trisha Spence. Tourists make up a large proportion of visitors to Cranbrook and these numbers need to be kept up for the upkeep of many businesses and the town as a whole. I am prepared to help set up a group to support Cranbrook’s tourism, but will need others to run it and to represent Cranbrook to the Borough Council. Ideally these candidates will be within the tourism sector themselves as they are already more involved and really know what is needed from a tourism perspective. Please support your town with this and email me if you are prepared to take on this role - contact@wealdbusinessassociation.co.uk
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Questionnaires
(20th November 2009 14:13)
At the beginning of next week I will be delivering some questionnaires to as many businesses as possible in Cranbrook. These are to take to the Councils to demonstrate the actual effects of the proposed car parking charges being enforced, rather than a simple number of people opposing it. Please fill these in, it is for your benefit, and encourage your neighbours to do so too. These are to be sent back to me - the address is at the bottom of the questionnaire. This is really important - we cannot lose this fight.
Cabinet Meeting invitation
(10th November 2009 10:34)
I have been invited by Anne Marley to attend a Cabinet Meeting on Friday 13th November with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council with the opportunity to speak for 3 minutes. This will be based around the proposed car parking charges. If you have any comments, information or requests that you would like me to bring up then please let me know by Thursday 12th November at 1pm. These can be emailed to contact@wealdbusinessassociation.co.uk.
BBC Current Affairs and Proposed Car Parking Charges
(3rd November 2009 15:30)
As you are all aware (I hope!), Cranbrook is facing a frightening change to its town with the proposed introduction of car parking charges. I am sure you all realise the problems that this will incurr and that the disadvantages massively outweigh the very few, if any, benefits that this could bring.
Simon Brown from the BBC has contacted me with regards to a documentary he is working on for BBC Current Affairs and would like to include in his film the fight we have against the proposed car parking charges. The film is to be shown on BBC2 and is about the relationship between Westminster politics and what matters to ordinary people, about political disengagement and what can be done to improve it. Mr Brown will be visiting the town on Thursday 5th November at 10am, so please do your town and its businesses and residents the justice it deserves - ensure your anti car parking charge posters are in prominent positions in your windows and make sure your neighbours' are too! We need top awareness of this issue and with such great publicity on this day we must all show the strongest passion for our town and disagreement with this proposal - we cannot miss out on this great opportunity.
I am also hoping that you have all had your say and signed the petitions circulating Cranbrook and its surrounding villages. Strength in numbers is vital here to maintain our town's business and well known vibrancy. If you have not already signed the petition in the fight against Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's idea then please visit this link and leave your comments: www.freeparking.cranbrookbusinessassociation.co.uk
I would like to thank Howard Cox at TDI for setting up this on-line petition and for all of you who have taken your time to complete it. The last update I had was that there were over 180 responses in just 10 days - let's keep this community spirit going.
Introduction
(3rd November 2009 15:00)
Welcome to the Chairman's Page of our new and improved website. I am Derek Wills, the Chairman of the Weald Business Association and am standing my 4th year in this position. I couldn't think of a better time for the revamp of the CBA. With the recession taking its toll on our local businesses there is more call now than ever for extra support and stronger lobbying on the businesses' behalfs. The Weald Business Association means the businesses of the TN17 and TN18 areas can join this new force, not just Cranbrook, and I am looking forward to seeing the great benefits this will have in our Weald as I'm sure you are. For maximum benefits and strength we need as many of you as possible. Come along to our next meeting on Monday 16th November to view our new strengths and how the association will benefit your business and your area. Please also bring a guest - more members means a louder voice and more results for you!
I will be updating my page regularly so please keep visiting to update yourself on current news, events and issues affecting you, your business and your local area.
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