Penzance Chamber of Commerce

Penzance OnLine Internet web site quality attracts visit from German study group

The town's Internet site - Penzance OnLine "www.penzance.co.uk" - was instrumental in the town playing host recently to a group of visiting German politicians from the Bavarian Parliament who had chosen Penzance as a base to a study economic development and regeneration in Cornwall.

Led by Herr Dr. Werner Wohland the Deputy Chief Clerk of the Bavarian Parliament, the party included the former Lord Mayor of Munich Herr Georg Kronawitter and four other members of parliament. A full day's programme was prepared and presented to them on Monday, September 6th in the Council Offices at St. John's Hall.

After a welcome from the mayor, Councillor Jack Aitken, the Penzance Chamber of Commerce President - Patrick French - gave the visitors a review of Economic Development issues from the point of view the town's business community. His presentation covered the historical aspects of the town's former economic position in Cornwall, the causes of the period of economic decline, the social issues provoked by that decline, and the economic development needs and issues facing the town in particular and Cornwall in general.

Penwith District Council's Director of Planning and Economic Development - Keith Giddens - then outlined the issues that have faced the district of Penwith relating to development and planning, and indicated many of the planning and development problems still facing the district.

After a lunch hosted by the visitors, the Chairman of Penwith District Council - Councillor Mrs Sonia Menadue JP - welcomed the visitors on behalf of Penwith District Council. John Lindfield - Penwith's Economic Development officer - then gave a short presentation on the role of Government and European Economic Funding in the economic regeneration projects that have taken place in the town, and escorted the group on a walking tour of the town.

Dr. Wohland thanked the local participants for their time and their presentations, and commented that the information they had received had exceeded their expectations. Both he and his companions were most impressed by the town of Penzance, its obvious vitality and the enthusiasm shown by everyone they had met. He stated that the group had chosen Penzance after visiting the Penzance web site - "www.penzance.co.uk" - on the Internet and being impressed by its quality and content.

Christmas Countdown

This year Penzance will switch on the whole town's Christmas lights in one big event. Market Jew Street, Causewayhead, Chapel Street and Alverton Street will all be lit up on the same evening, Thursday December 2. There will be new impressive displays to add to the ones from last year, street entertainment and a full, and not to be missed, procession.

The parade will leave the railway station at 6.30 pm, marching up Market Jew Street into Causewayhead, and upon reaching the top, Duncan Warren of Pirate FM102, will perform the ceremony of the big switch on. The procession will consist of Penzance Town Band, local schoolchildren, dressed in a Christmas theme with prizes for the best, the Town Mayor, other local dignitaries, members of Penzance's churches and everyone who made the whole thing possible will be there on the night, with of course . . . Father Christmas and many other surprises in our millennium parade.

Watch Penzance really come alive this year from December 2 which will of course mark the first of four late night shopping evenings, until 9 pm with all major streets closed to traffic, so everyone can enjoy the fun in safety and do all your Christmas shopping in Penzance - the place to be. Many shops will be open until 8 pm during Christmas week itself; why go anywhere else, we have the choice, the service, the fun, the lights, the food, the drink and the atmosphere to rival anywhere.

Thanks must be given to all the people who have been working tirelessly to ensure the whole town is brought together to give Penzance, the public and all businesses the best Christmas yet. The Chamber of Commerce, brighter Christmas volunteers (BCV), Market Jew Street traders, Causewayhead traders, the Town Mayor, the town council and the traders of Alverton Street and Chapel Street have all been working beyond the call of duty to bring all the above to fruition; no one is paid, lots of us have full time jobs, or our own businesses to run and our own families to consider, but still are dedicated to see Penzance flourish. There is no pot of money, we beg, fund raise, in fact do almost anything to be proud of, so please do not be offended when asked for contributions; many give several over a year but nothing comes free. Lights themselves, the putting up and taking down, entertainment, even closing the roads all cost money. We still need as many hands as possible to help erect the lights on Sunday November 7 and November 14 from 8 am and removing Sunday, January 9, 2000. Please contact Mrs Freethy on Penzance 365974.

For entertainments, any offers, anything considered contact Steven Smith on Penzance 369422 or 07801-944670.

Retirement

All the quality people seem to be retiring at the same time! The Chamber of Commerce would like to add its best wishes to the many extended to Geoff Nicholls on his retirement from the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company after 47 years. The event was celebrated by a well-kept secret party on September 5 on Scillonian III. It needed to be a big venue - to hold all Geoff's many friends and well wishers. The Chamber has not completely lost his services; Geoff has kindly offered to continue his copper plate handling writing of our certificates.

Treasurer

Pressure of business due to the continuing success of Collins Electrical Services, Knight's Yard, Penzance has meant the Chamber's treasurer has had to offer her resignation. After five years of dealing with the Chamber's accounts Sue Collins has decided to retire at the end of this financial year in October. Mrs Collins has worked hard and diligently for the Chamber and Dennis Dowrick, chairman, expressed his sincere thanks on the Chamber's behalf.

Meeting

Members attending the chamber meeting on September 7, were : Chairman,Dennis Dowrick; Sue and Peter Collins, Pat French, Richard Hilder, Jan and John Garrison, Dennis Kemp, B Orme, Sue Parkyn, Howard Phillips, Steve Smith, Mike Waters. Visitors Rosemary Fee and John Vesto, Wharfside Centre Manager. Apologies were received from: L Bauld, S Bodinar, S Francis, B Marshall, M Patrick, D Peters, B Spiegelhalter, F Truscott and Enterprise Cars, Long Rock.

CCTV is working

PC K Furse gave a report on the breakdown of incidents recorded for July 1999; 95 incidents represented 41 per cent of the total occurrences in the area covered by cameras, leading to 24 per cent people being detained. Again this represented 41 per cent of the total of people detained throughout the area. CCTV has proved to be very useful and can help police when planning their policing policy.

Concern was expressed by members that reports made to the police are not followed up and this PC Furse doubted. He was sure all reports received the attention they deserved and asked that the public accepted some incidents were more serious than others and so needed a faster, more positive response.

One constant problem is that of beggars, buskers and drunks. Please do not think Chamber members have no concern for the less fortunate among us; we are as concerned about people on the streets as anyone else; it is rather more difficult to be forbearing and understanding if the beggar, busker or drunk is outside your place of business from opening to closing time, asking your customers for money, making a noise (all buskers are not good buskers) or looking as if they are about to re-decorate the entrance to your place of business. All these incidents should be reported. The police may not always be able to respond immediately but they cannot respond at all if they do not know.

The Chamber is willing to be the go-between; if you have an annoying incident and feel you do not get anywhere calling the police call the Chamber on Penzance 719222, leave your name, number and as many details as you can and we will make the report on your behalf.

Please remember the Chamber is run by volunteers and a part time secretary, so many calls will be taken by our answering machine but this is constantly checked throughout the day and will be dealt with as soon as possible. If you make a report yourself always ask for a report reference number and this can be used to follow up the outcome. We need to rid our streets of undesirable people; the police need your help.

Health and Safety Week

Thousands of organisations throughout the country are planning to take part in this year's Health and Safety Week which is being organised by the Health and Safety Executive. This is a special year as it marks 25 years since the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The week will run from the 25 to 31 October 1999.

The initiative sees participants highlighting the issues of health and safety within their workplace and endeavouring to do something positive to make the workplace safer and healthier. Projects would include such things as: increasing awareness amongst employees and managers, undertaking those risk assessments which have been put off previously, reviewing current arrangements for complying with legislation, watching safety videos (these are available from the Environmental Health Department of Penwith Council on free loan - contact them on (01736-362341)) and so on. If your business would like to participate phone 0845-2701100 and you will receive a free video, free booklet and free stickers to give more information about this year's Health and Safety Week.

As a preview to the event free seminars are being run by M J Waters Associates, Health and Safety Management and Training Consultants, looking at the financial implications of compliance and non-compliance with Health and Safety law (non-compliance is a criminal offence). The seminars will be held at the Penwith Business Centre, Long Rock from 7 to 9 pm on Wednesday, September 29 and Wednesday, October 6, 1999. To book please phone Mike Waters on (01736) 361007 or 352018. Places are limited to 25 per seminar and an information pack will be supplied to all delegates attending.

Community and Sports Associations -- Your contact information is urgently needed!

The next section to be added to Penzance OnLine - www.penzance.co.uk -- the Penzance Chamber of Commerce web site, is dealing with the local community, both in terms of facilities and services available (e.g. education, health, social services, etc.) and also social activities and associations within the community is being finalised.

Last month's appeal to all community groups within the local area to provide details for inclusion on the town's Internet web site produced a very low response. Very few of the town's clubs, churches, social and cultural organisations and associations seem to want to take advantage of the free listings being offered. The offer is still open. Simply contact the Web Site Manager by telephone on (01736)-786328 or visit the site and fill out the form.

Events Organisers - Remember that a local 'Events Diary' is being planned for the final quarter of 1999. Organisers of events due to take place during the year 2000 should contact the Web Site Manager as above or fill out the form with any dates and details they would like published.

Visitor numbers to the web site pages continue to grow - over 8,000 in August. The number of countries providing user access to the site has now risen to over 30.

Check out your listing - All businesses and other organisations, whether members of the Chamber or not, are encouraged to find and verify the accuracy of their individual listing. They should draw the attention of the Web Site Manager to any errors, or if they find that they have been omitted from the relevant listings.

Details are available on the web site for those who wish to link from the 'free' listings on Penzance OnLine to pages designed for them on the site or on to their own web sites hosted elsewhere.

Previous Newsletters

PENZANCE - THE PLACE TO BE

More about Penzance Chamber of Commerce can be found at:-