Stourbridge & District
Chamber of Trade
Meeting Minutes

Stourbridge & District Chamber of Trade Meeting
Monday 12th May 2008 6.00pm Waitrose, Stourbridge

Present: Chris Icke President, Rupert Dugdale, Roger Eames, Geoff Downing, Nicola Reeve, Patrick Grainger, Damien Thomas, Trevor Porter, Andy Round, Peter Cox, David Harcourt, Howard Davies

Apologies: Caspar Lucas Barbara Sykes

Membership: Dermot McGillicuddy has resigned from Chamber; thanks were recorded for his service to the Chamber and also for the use of his offices. Will be seeking nominations for new Vice President. The Chamber were also sorry to see Matthew Caddick has left Stourbridge and taken up a new post in Warwick, he will be greatly missed and our thanks for all his hard work for the town are hereby recorded.

Minutes: Minutes from 4th February were approved

Town Centre: McDonalds have closed, possibly to be taken over by KFC. Farm Foods is also closing and one or two others shops may go from Ryemarket as leases are coming up for renewal. Pendragon are looking to get back into town centre.

Finances: No report available

Events: Carnival on July 6th, judges here for In Bloom on July 15th – rest of railings due to be painted, Coventry St mound to be landscaped, fencing being reclad by caravan, Pocket Park progressing. Possible use of Lower High Street as venue for some of the one off events in future, need to consider further.

Crown Centre: Chamber thanked Rupert Dugdale for attending on behalf of Council to give update on developments. Government Office approval for scheme has now been granted, planning permission should follow in due course. Estimated start Feb 2009, Tesco are meeting developers next week. Major issue is temporary car parking – options include increasing capacity of Ryemarket, improve Birmingham Street with possible park and ride facility and use of Angel Triangle.

Need ongoing updates on timescale and schedule of works as soon as available. Reassurances requested that ring road will not be disrupted in pre Christmas period

Other matters: Good initial response to new Town Centre Managers post, in interim Pat Taylor from Brierley Hill will cover the job but has limited time.

Stourbridge Branch Line: 4 advertising panels to promote town will be available, give consideration to options

Need to encourage Centro to support in Bloom in station area

New police Inspector and Sergeant have been appointed – invite to future meeting.