Month: May 2018

A very warm welcome to our new President, Bob Gilmore, who was elected at our AGM last night. Bob, from Fox in the House, takes over from Richard Jaggs of Resolution Design, who has now completed his second 2 year posting as President. Over the past 2 years Richard and the Committee introduced the successful new local membership and launched the new website, as well as re-starting the events, email newsletters and business representation. Richard will be staying on as a member of the Executive Committee.

Welcome also to Carol Watkinson, who was elected as Treasurer. Carol, from Fluid Network Systems, takes over from Simon Williams of Next Gen Leadership, who has done an excellent job in keeping the Chamber’s finances in order of the past 2 years.

In changes to the Executive Committee, leaving us are Kevin Stone of Number 59, Chris Hood of Beehive Antiques and Roy Webster of White Horse Design & Build, staying on are Rose Webster of Spirit Fashion and Scott Green of All Cut Up.

The Chamber thanks Richard, Simon and outgoing members of the Committee for their hard work and notable contributions to the re-launch of the Devizes Chamber.

The Devizes Chamber of Commerce is part of a working group, led by the Devizes Town Council, to review and feedback on Wiltshire Council’s new County-wide parking order.

The order is designed to increase revenue generation for the County Council and proposes significant parking price increases, as well as the removal of the free 1/2 parking in the Market Place. After several meetings the working group has agreed on the main recommendations to discuss with Councillor Phillip Whitehead, Chairman of the Area Traffic Group, these include:

• proposed significant increases to season ticket prices are limited to no more than 12%
• that all Devizes parking charges are rationalised to a single tariff
• the length of stay at the south end of Station Road is increased to all day for ticket purchasing
• that the maximum stay is increased from 3 to 4 hours in all short stay car parks
• that the amendment to allow charging in the Market Place is removed from the order until a full impact assessment can be undertaken
• a reduction in the length of time visitors can stay in free on-street town centre parking
• that any reference to evening parking charges be removed
• that Sunday and Bank Holiday parking charges be removed

The Chamber also recommended that levels of enforcement in the town be increased, particularly in relation to on-street parking.