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Chamber Monthly News - December 2002 |
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An End to Persecution of Cars and Drivers?No responsible person doubts that the private car can, in some circumstances, be a menace. Road accidents claim many times more lives each year in this country than the high-profile dangers of terrorism, AIDS, BSE, and deep-vein thrombosis put together. The environmental impact of car use, especially in cities, is unquestionably detrimental. However, in a community such as ours, where a town serves a widespread rural district some private car use is essential. Even the Government appears to have recognised that strident anti-car policies have little future. Last week saw the announcement of billions in road improvement expenditure (including, crucially for our region, improvements to the A303). This should be taken on board by the planners at local level who should now abandon the "five seats bad, fifty seats good" mantra. At a recent meeting of the Penzance Transport Strategy group - described as a "shambles" by the Chamber Chairman, Mike Waters - local bus companies, the Penzance Forum and the town's traffic wardens were not represented. As a result, no new initiatives were agreed. The only certainty is that, within six to nine months, the town's roads will begin to grow humps. Are speed humps really the best we can come up with? They are as unpopular with emergency services (imagine the effect of humps in an ambulance with a critical case on board) as they are with local residents who suffer the resultant noise pollution (who but the most stone-hearted bureaucrat did not smile at news of the up-country builder who demolished the hump that denied him sleep?). They can cause vehicle damage and taking them accurately diminishes a driver's all round attention. Their effect on achieving speed reduction is largely unproven. Irresponsible drivers simply resort to a sequence of sprints and hard-braking manoeuvres. Unfamiliar drivers do not realise they are there until they clatter into them at full speed resulting in damage to their vehicles or, worse still, loss of control. Far better options would be driver education and the rigid enforcement of the existing laws. Few drivers would exceed speed limits if they knew they were likely to be caught. Of course these are resource-hungry solutions, but surely the resources should be found if speeding really is the desperate scourge it is painted? If visitors to Penzance are denied the easy use of their cars, they are not going to use local public transport. They are going to shop, stay and eat somewhere else. Rather than park and ride, they will turn and go. That will be the true cost of the humps. We might need to lie down in the road to keep them away but I, and I believe most of the Chamber of Commerce, think the humps should not be built. CAVEAT: this is a personal view by Chamber Press Officer
Mark Curtis Chamber Meeting NewsThe last meeting of 2002 opened with a presentation by Joan Hooper of NETwork training outlining the business start-up support, pre-vocational and IT training courses on offer at The Breadline Centre, Bread Street. Members with staff in need of training support - or who could benefit themselves - should telephone 332318 for details. Further to last month's report regarding a possible Book Arts Festival, the meeting heard that Penzance Town Council is supportive of the idea and that Chamber member Jane Keene of Keene Communications Consultancy is offering the organisers marketing support. No new members were put forward this month although a number of enquiries are in the pipeline. The meeting discussed the proposals of The Tree of Life Research Foundation project, which were to be on show at the Acorn Theatre the next day. Despite sceptical noises about new-age matters from some members, the pragmatic view that anything with appeal to visitors which was in keeping with the local environment should be given a cautious welcome - although suggestions that this could become "Penwith's Eden Project" were perhaps a little overstated. The Chamber has received details of a Chinese, Japanese & Korean Translation service and would like to remind all members that the Cornish Language School (01726 882681) can provide Cornish translations. An invitation to be represented on West Cornwall Community Network (www.wccn.org.uk), a network of community & voluntary groups was received. Any member wishing to take up the post of Chamber representative should call the secretary, Yvonne Neale on 719222. Vice-chair Nicky Dowrick reported that the Cornwall Structure Plan Deposit Draft 2002 was difficult to read without reference to previous plans and it was noted with surprise that Penzance was not in the index, Hayle & Penzance are not mentioned at all in the harbours section & Newlyn has but one line. The Chairman was asked to write to the authors to enquire whether Cornwall now ends at Truro. Richard Hilder informed the meeting that the chamber website has registered more than half a million visits during this year. Chamber President Dennis Dowrick expressed concern that
the Geological Museum could be sold and part of St John's Hall car park
with it. The meeting agreed that the situation should be monitored.
Town Christmas AwardsDecember 19th sees the announcement of the best Christmas
display awards at the Wharfside Centre from 7pm. The Mayor of Penzance
will be on hand to make the presentations. All are welcome to attend
and cheer on the winners. The judges have been braving the December
weather, roaming the streets in pursuit of excellence and report a uniformly
high standard this year - full report on the winners in next month's
newsletter! Don't Let Penzance Miss the BoatChamber of Commerce Chairman Mike Waters is making an impassioned appeal to all interested parties to bring their efforts to bear on the vexed question of a Marina for Penzance. Leading marina operators have indicated that it would be viable for Penzance, Newlyn and Hayle each to have a working marina - provided the initial capital costs could be met. The challenge then lies in putting together plans that can raise the many millions needed to place a breakwater ahead of Penzance harbour. This is a challenge which can only be met by just the sort of co-operation the Regeneration Steering group was formed to achieve. However, it appears that a fragmentation of interests continues. "Despite being Chairman of the Harbour and Town Regeneration Steering Group, I've not been invited to meetings with a major developer who has expressed interest in the area," he told the Chamber's December meeting. "The impression outside interests must get of the workings of our district can only be guessed at." Suggestions that the District Council might want a re-constituted
group were dismissed at the meeting as posturing. "The council is a
just another member of the steering group, with a vote like everyone
else. They can propose changes, but only the group can change itself.
It's about time we all stopped squabbling and agreed what needs to be
done, what can be done and set about getting things done," he told the
meeting. Small Firms Allowance SchemeMembers are urged to act now to qualify for a grant to help them achieve better health and safety The Small Firms Allowance Scheme (SFAS) is a limited pilot scheme being run by Business Link on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive to assist as many pre-starts and small businesses as possible. The scheme operates until 31st May 2003 and provides a maximum of £1000 grant funding to eligible businesses. The aim of the scheme is to raise awareness of health and safety issues and to help pre starts and micro firms with less than 10 employees produce an H&S Policy, carry out suitable risk assessments and implement an appropriate action plan. The scheme is delivered in partnership with a number of practitioners, among whom are Penzance-based Safety UK, and offers the following assistance:
This assistance is designed to provide material benefits
such as a reduction in the incidence of accidents and ill-health amongst
employees, reduced liability for claims for compensation as well as
saving money. For further information and a free audit, contact Safety
UK on 01736 361007 Business Needs its Independent VoiceAnnouncements that a self-styled "Business Forum" for Penwith has been formed with the behest of Penzance District Council were greeted with some scepticism at the Chamber's December meeting. At the time of writing, requests for more information about the purpose, character, composition and aims of this body have been met with stony silence. Your Chamber of Commerce was not even invited to send a representative to this forum's inaugural meeting last week. In the absence of information, the Chamber cannot speculate on the motives behind the establishment of this body. Suffice to say that the Penzance Chamber of Commerce will go on with its work promoting the interests of all business in the area, unswayed by political expediency or power games. Business benefits from an independent voice, answerable
to no one but the business community. That's just what the Chamber of
Commerce offers. Now, more than ever, members need to engage in the
activities of their chamber - remember, history is made by those who
turn up! New members too, are always welcome. High Tech Hoteliers at the Camilla HouseThe new owners of the Camilla House Hotel in Regent Terrace, Penzance aim to make the attractions of the district and high technology less of a mystery. For the conundrum of how their hotel came by its name, however, Simon and Susan Chapman are seeking help. Simon, whose family are local, was working as an IT project consultant to a music industry firm in London when he met Susan, a departmental manager in the same company. "Not in the glamour side", she says, although she does allude to having attended "one or two" glamorous events. As frequent visitors to the district, Simon and Susan decided that West Cornwall offered the kind of living and working environment they sought. Running a hotel struck them as just the kind of business that could allow them to live and work in Penzance. With Susan's extensive experience in customer care and relationship management augmented by a hotel management course, the couple found the "perfect opportunity" when the Camilla House came on the market earlier this year. Simon continues to work in the technology field, offering an IT consultancy service to local businesses. Combining hotel ownership with a high tech savvy is particularly useful these days. The Camilla House Hotel will soon have broadband internet access throughout and Simon and Susan expect guests to make use of the facility. "An increasing number of people are expected to be in e-mail reach wherever they are these days," Simon observes. "Broadband means that they can be as well connected here as they can in their offices or homes." Not that the workaholic lifestyle is the only target. Walkers who stay with Simon and Susan will benefit from the couple's extensive knowledge of the district's paths and other diversions - Simon has walked the entire coast path. They intend to offer detailed activity plans for those guests who need help to make the most of their visit to the district. "Too often," Susan posits "visitors are left to discover all that's best about our area for themselves. A few hints and directions can make all the difference to their experience, ensuring that they come back and spread positive word of mouth impressions." Open all the year round, the Camilla House will add value to a visit, tailored to each guest's needs. As well as the technical facilities, this takes the form of detailed activity programmes, organised walks or other support activities. "As much support as the guest needs or wants," as Susan puts it. Of course, the hotel also caters for those guests who just want to be left to their own devices. This fusion of skills, in customer service and technology will, the couple hope, build on the good reputation of the Camilla House. The intention is to provide enjoyable and productive stays for their guests - whether on business or pleasure. All that remains is to solve the riddle of the name. The new owners have studied the deeds back to 1836 but can readers shed any more light on the subject? The Camilla House Hotel, 12 Regent Terrace, TR18 4DW Tel/Fax:
363771 Join the ChamberThe Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of local business with the County, District and Town Councils, Government agencies and public bodies. It actively campaigns on issues affecting the business community as well as issues affecting the community as a whole. This requires finances and direct involvement by committed people, and deserves the support of every business in the region. Our Chairman is coordinator of the West Cornwall Group of Chambers and the Cornwall Business Partnership. He is a member of the Priority Management Group 3, which approves Objective One funding in the area of Learning and Skills development He is also a member of the Penzance Regeneration Steering Group that has worked on the submission of an Objective One bid to greatly enhance the prosperity of the town and its inhabitants. Other members represent the Chamber on such bodies as the Police Consultative Committee and Tourism Committee. All businesses have problems from time to time, and it has been proved that representation from a Chamber Officer on behalf of the member concerned can greatly enhance the prospect of a satisfactory conclusion. With major issues, such as the Penzance Regeneration Project, West Cornwall Hospital, Objective One and so on needing input from the business community there has never been a better reason for all businesses to become Chamber members - the greater our membership, the bigger our voice. JOIN NOW! We invite membership applications from individuals and
businesses large or small. For further information, visit the Membership
Enquiry or Membership Application pages
on this site. Forthcoming MeetingsThe next monthly Chamber Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 7th at 7.30pm at the Queens Hotel, The Promenade, Penzance. In the meantime, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all members, supporters and readers! Previous Newsletters 1999 PENZANCE - THE PLACE TO BE |
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