Cancellation of December Committee Meeting.

There will be no meeting of the Chamber Committee during December due to the pressure of other commitments including delivery of the Town Centre Xmas Campaign..  The next meeting is scheduled for Tue 6 Jan 2015.

Funding for studies and coastal defence work in Mounts Bay.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited Penzance today and used the opportunity to  announce cash for a study into building an offshore sea defences in Mount's Bay. £150,000 has been allocated  to perform an options review into a breakwater, a project MP Andrew George has been canvassing support for in Govt.  See Cornishman news item here.

The announcement comes as the Government announces £2.7 billion for schemes to reduce flood risk to approximately 500,000 homes. The details of flood defence projects have been published by the Government in its "Programme of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Schemes"  (see Excel spread sheet accompanying press release here).  

Mounts Bay Trading, Causewayhead, Penzance have a particularly eye catching Xmas display - well done.

Sound Penzance wins National Best Bar None Award.

On Wednesday, November 26, the management team from Sound Nightclub, Penzance, accompanied by MP Andrew George, attended the national awards ceremony at the House of Lords in London to be presented with the top award. 

The National assessors felt Sound were set apart from the competition by the way in which they demonstrated working with the community.

The management team from Sound said: “We feel that it is important for the licensed trade to operate safe premises in Cornwall, but we also feel that as a business it is important to be at the heart of the community – National Best Bar None supported our work with the community such as environmental clean ups, hosting of Street Pastors within our premises, fund raising for and hosting of a community defibrillator, as well as hosting training events and working closely with schools in the area”. 

Sound has been the winner for Cornwall Best Bar None for the last two years. 

Read more in the Falmouth Packet here

Star Inn re-opens!

The Star Inn at the top of Market Jew St Penzance has re-opened after a three quarters of a million pound re-fit. A building that was an eyesore in the heart of the Town is now an asset. Dick Cliffe, Chairman of Penzance Chamber, felt obligued to check it out.

A lot of thought has gone into the internal design of this large Inn because it spreads over various levels and provides intimacy for groups of various sizes. Despite the smell of newness, the bar area contains many orignal feature - some of the beams are very obviously orignal. The bar has a good range of beers and there are several options for eating with part of the floor area separated off for more formal dining with table servic.

The menu looks interesting and good value. I was reassured by staff that all food is prepared on the premises. You can view light bites, grill, sweets and stove/oven sections of the menu by clicking the links. The credit card machine has not yet been installed so go prepared to pay cash if checking the place out in the next few days.

I was really pleased to see this old Inn thoroughly refurbished and performing the role it has performed for more than one hundred years.

Penzance Xmas Lights Switch-on & Free Parking all day.

Penzance Xmas Lights Switch-on today, Sat 29 Nov, with free parking all day in Cornwall Council and Penzance Town Council car parks.  

You can find out what else is going on in Penzance in the run up to Xmas here::

https://www.facebook.com/whatsonpenzance/

http://www.lovepz.co.uk

Xmas Campaign

The Penzance Town Centre Xmas Campaign to support the retail and hospitality sector is supported by free parking in Cornwall Council and Pz Town Council car parks all day on Saturdays between now and Christmas. Free parking is also being provided on seven evening shopping nights from Monday 15 Dec (15-19th, 22nd and 23 rd Dec) - free evening parking starts at 4 pm.

Free Saturday all day parking means 00.01 to 23.59 hrs on Saturdays. Free weekday evening parking means 16.00 to 23.59 hrs.

No hoods will provided on ticket machines so drivers will have to be vigilent - there are no refunds for accidental fee payment. All participating car parks (Cornwall Council & Penzance Town Council ) will be displaying notices similar to the above but explicitly laying down free parking periods.  All normal car parking rules apply (the only concession is the charge for off street car parks).

The Xmas Campaign is being promoted by flyers (at the printers) and a social media campaign. You can download the flyer (5MB high resolution pdf version  here).

Find out more at www.lovepenzance.co.uk   (click 'Blog').

Chamber Meeting - Thursday 13 Nov at 5.45 pm

There will be a short Chamber Committee meeting tonight (13 Nov)  at 5.45 pm in The Workbox focussing on the Xmas Campaign and updates on the Town Centre Regeneration Board and BID.  The meeting is open to any member to attend.

BID Workshops

The process of identifying projects for Penzance’s proposed 5 year BID programme is underway.  A survey of businesses (156 responses) has identified the issues.  The problem now is to identify deliverable projects to deal with the issues.  The Marketing & Events workshop has already taken place.  The remaining three are:

• Vacant Premises & Physical Improvements – Tue 4th Nov
• Security & Business Support – Tue 11th Nov
• Car Parking & Access – Wed 12 Nov

All workshops take place in The Exchange Gallery, Princes Street between 6.00 and 7.30 pm.   Please email Mario Cortes at mcortes@cornwall.gov.uk if want to attend (and have not already told us).  There is a limit on attendance but please ask to attend if interested because there are some unfilled places.

A summary of survey results can be downloaded here

Next Chamber Committee Meeting - Thu 13 Nov

The November meeting of the Chamber takes place on Thursday 13 Nov at 5.45 in 'The Workbox' (Pz 360 Building - 4th Floor). This move was notified in recent emails (17th & 24th Oct) to members (under 'forthcoming events'). The move was necessary because of a conflict with the BID workshop taking place on 4 Nov.

The main topic on the agenda for the 13th Nov will be the Town Centre Xmas Campaign. 

The meeting is open to all members to attend. 

BID Feedback Event 22 Oct - Responses please!

 

BID Feedback Event 

Wednesday 22 Oct 2014 (5.30 for 6.15 pm)

Penwith College (Zennor Building)

Businesses in the proposed Penzance BID area are invited to a feedback event at Penwith College on 22 Oct.  The event will provide the results of the survey of businesses priorities for the future BID and start the process of selecting future initiatives.  The feedback is based upon 156 survey responses.  

There is a buffet from 5.30 with the event starting at 6.15 pm

All busineses should have received a formal invitation in the post.  The invitation can  also be downloaded here (invite) and here (details & return slip).  

Marcus Wilkinson needs to know who is coming.  If you have not sent back the postal slip then email or telephone Marcus ( marcus@alfred-smith.co.uk  01736 363134 )  with the following:

    Your name:

    Your business name:

    Number attending:

    Address & tel. no

More information at  http://www.penzancebid.co.uk/