Penzance Chamber of Commerce

The last 12 months has passed seeing the Chamber increasingly involved in issues that affect both businesses in the town and local residents. We continue to be consulted by Penwith District Council on a variety of issues and all applications for street trading licences are passed to me for comment prior to being considered. A number of applications have been received in the last year that would, in my opinion, have resulted in an unfair trading situation for retailers in the Lloyds Bank area and these were not approved by PDC.

My work with the Penzance Regeneration Steering Group has resulted with some work having been started to enhance the town, particularly the new layout and paving in Market Jew Street. Whilst the work has not met with the approval of many people it has with the majority and, living in a democracy as we do, we must accept this situation and work to improve those aspects that we do not agree with rather than condemn the whole scheme. A perfect example of this is the successful campaigning that has resulted in Public Hire Vehicles being treated the same as Hackney Cabs with regard to being able to transit through Market Jew Street and the changes made outside St John's Hall.

It is likely that the regeneration work in and around the harbour will start later this year which will have a positive effect on the creation of new employment opportunities with the resultant impact upon local businesses.

An annual gripe is that I continue to be disappointed at the lack of members attending our monthly meetings, admittedly the situation has improved slightly in the last few months helped, in part, by the interesting guest speakers that have joined us. I hope that word will spread and that future meetings will result in larger attendances. It was sad to see that the sub-group established to increase our membership and meeting attendance could not achieve their objective and disbanded instead. Thanks though to Jan and John Garrison who have taken it upon themselves to contact numerous businesses that have resulted in our ranks being increased.

The motorcycle run from Lands End to John O'Groats and back in aid of the Air Ambulance will be the highlight of 2006 as far as I am concerned and will result in increased awareness of the Chamber of Commerce which, hopefully will also translate in to more members. The run is setting off on Sunday 30 th April from Lands End and I have arranged for a motorbike rally and trade stands to be held there on that day, I will be seeking volunteers nearer the time to help organise on the day and rattle buckets to increase the fund raising event so you have been warned!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Hazel Trembath for her continuing efforts, they are greatly appreciated by the whole community.

Holding any position within an organisation such as the Chamber can be onerous and thankless at times so my thanks to all those who have helped make a difference. I consider myself to be privileged to hold the position of Chairman and would be grateful for your support to continue in post for a further term.

Mike Waters (Chairman 2005/2006)

PENZANCE - THE PLACE TO BE

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