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Melksham Business Newsreel

Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2012-04-03 10:26:41 - Graham Ellis

There's a lot going on in Melksham ... I thought it worth posting (for wider reading) the headlines of issues that I'll have on my list for a meeting that's coming up this Thursday evening.

a) Business support. At the last Chamber of Commerce meeting, Chris Simpson introduced the forthcoming business support service which offers free, confidential and impartial advise to new businesses and those thinking of starting new businesses. Service launched on 2nd April; contact Chris via Chamber of Commerce office.

b) Rail. Consultation on train service levels in the area (including Melksham) for the next 15 years closed on 31st March. TransWilts Community Rail Partnership, Chamber of Commerce, some major local businesses, Wiltshire Council, local groups and a number of individuals all made submissions supporting an increased service level of around 10 trains each way per day. Numerous and a wide variety of inputs will have made a real difference on this one - my thanks to everyone who wrote in; let's hope enough of us did. We'll know how we got on, in the next month, when the invitation to bid is issued by the Department for Transport.

c) Canal Update. John Laverick of the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust will be at the next Chamber of Commerce meeting to give us an update. The coming of a navigable waterway to Melksham will make a real difference in attracting visitors into the town.

d) SCOB. The Shadow Community Operations Board continues to meet at least once every two weeks, as we learn about all the requirements of current and future users of the various facilities to be combined on the Melksham House / Campus site, and how to make best use of the budget agreed. Posters have gone out via SCOB members telling people how and where to get in touch, and all SCOB members welcome inputs / approaches from anyone with an interest.

e) Chamber of Commerce AGM - 24th April, 18:30, Well House Manor. All welcome (only members can vote, though). We'll also be addressed by Rob Perks, new CEO of the Wessex Association of Chambers - our umbrella support organisation. President, Chair, Vice Chair Treasurer ,and all executive committee positions are up for election.

f) Mention for other activities in town / just to ensure that traders are aware of Melksham Museum, Blue Plaques, Core Strategy consultation, local sustainable transport fund bid, and other matters of interest to local businesses.

URLs ...

Wessex Business Support http://www.wessexchambers.org.uk/business-support/how-we-work.php
Chamber / Rail Respone http://www.melkshamchamber.org.uk/dftcoc.pdf
TransWilts / Rail Response http://www.twcrp.org.uk/DfT_GWconsultation_TransWilts.pdf
Shadow Community Operations Board http://www.melkshamcampus-scob.org.uk/
Melksham Chamber / AGM http://www.melkshamchamber.org.uk/
Well House Collection / Melksham Museum http://www.twhc.org.uk/TWHC/Welcome.html
Core Strategy http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planninganddevelopment/planningpolicy/wiltshirecorestrategy.htm
Local Sustainable Transport Fund Bid http://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/documents/s41588/HT-006-12%20-%20Local%20Sustainable%20Transport%20Fund%20-%20Bid%20Application%20-%20Report.pdf