Happy New Year.
Happy New Year to all.
Small bits of news: The government has reversed the Labour 2001 policy and now intends to make parking easier for motorists, and not to try and force them onto public transport. Probably a good thing…anything that helps traders trade which this should, is a good thing.
The VAT rise. Is all the hooha in the media at the moment just so much hot air? Did you notice sales soar when the VAT went down to 15%? Thought not. So will sales die because VAT goes up to 20%? Hope not.
SNOW: Council information.
The council have put out a pdf document which you can download from here.
Basically it sums up what will and won’t be cleared, what they will try to do, and what we can do to help ourselves, and any neighbours who might need help.
Roads that will be gritted are Primary Roads: Major routes, main bus routes and roads that connect to hospitals. More info from www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/roads/maintenance/saltingandgritting
Grit Bins will be filled and a few ‘hippo bags’ of grit will be put into primary route areas. Info from www.eastsussex.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/roadsmaintenance/saltingandgritting/gritbins
The main Hastings and St Leonards shopping areas will be cleared, as possible, by council contractors and staff.
Clearing areas yourself, The Snow Code: Don’t be put off clearing paths because you’re afraid someone will get injured.
Remember, people walking on snow and ice have responsibility to be careful themselves.
“…. The only person who is at risk of being sued is a person who clears the snow so badly that things are worse than before and that common sense
would indicate that this is so; an example given is that of a person who clears a path with water in freezing temperatures and pays no attention to the fact that the water left behind freezes and creates slippery ice. ..”Ministry of Justice, March 2010
Follow the advice below to make sure you clear the pathway safely and effectively.
Clear the snow or ice early in the day It’s easier to move fresh, loose snow rather than hard snow that has packed together from people walking on it. So if possible, start removing the snow and ice in the morning. If you remove the top layer of snow in the morning, any sunshine during the day will help melt any ice beneath. You can then cover the path with salt before nightfall to stop it refreezing overnight.
Use salt or sand – not water If you use water to melt the snow, it may refreeze and turn to black ice. Black ice increases the risk of injuries as it is invisible and very slippery. You can prevent black ice by spreading some salt on the area you have cleared. You can use ordinary table or dishwasher salt – a tablespoon for each square metre you clear should work. Don’t use the salt found in salting bins -this will be needed to keep the roads clear. Be careful not to spread salt on plants or grass as it may cause them damage. If you don’t have enough salt, you can also use sand or ash. These won’t stop the path icing over as well as salt, but will provide good grip under foot. It will however need to be cleared up once the weather improves.
Take care where you move the snow to When you’re shovelling snow, take care where you put it so it doesn’t block people’s paths or drains. Make sure you make a path down the middle of the area to be cleared first, so you have a clear surface to walk on. Then shovel the snow from the centre of the path to the sides.
Monday 13th: Carols
After the snow we are starting Christmas again with Carols and a Brass Band on Monday 13th.
6:00 to 7:30. Corner Cross Street and Kings Road.
Refreshments are available.
Thanks to Gensing Forum for organizing this.
Bill Orton, SBA Chairman.
Bill Orton, the Chairman of SBA, and better known as the owner of Orton Butchers has retired.
A message from Bill:
My father, C. Orton, bought the butchery in 1949, when rationing was still in place. I joined in 1964 and when my father retired in 1976 I decided not to move to Canada as I was planning, but to take over the business.
In these years small retail shops were flourishing and I bought another butchery in the country. I sold this in 1992, and have been busy running the Norman Road shop since then.
There have been many changes and ups & downs in St Leonards over the years, and it has been a privilege to meet and serve so many wonderful people in my working life as ‘Bill the Butcher’.
I have also enjoyed the forming of the SBA with other like minded business people, originally to fight ‘The Parking Issues’ and since to be a recognised voice in our business community.
Alas all good things come to an end. All that is left to say is goodbye and thank you once again for your support. It has been a wonderful way of life.
Regards to you all and every success,
Bill.
A picture of Bill a few years before he started in the shop.
Bill, a few years later.
On behalf of the SBA, St Leonards businesses and all your customers may we wish you a happy and healthy retirement, and thank you for all those years of being ‘Bill the Butcher’, and for getting the SBA, and St Leonards where it is today.
Dec 4th Christmas Events Postponed.
St Leonards Christmas On Sea 2010
Saturday 4th December
Postponement Notice
It is with regret, that due to the recent adverse weather conditions it has been decided to postpone the Christmas events planned for Saturday 4th December in St Leonards and consolidate them into the events already planned for Saturday 18th December.
The Christmas committee feels the safety of our volunteers, residents, shop owners, visitors and entertainers is paramount and with freezing conditions expected for the weekend it would be impossible to ensure that the events were enjoyed safely by everyone.
However, we are still planning ahead to the main event on Saturday 18th December and we look forward to welcoming everyone to what will be a truly fabulous St Leonards Christmas on Sea.
Tell your customers about Christmas
Lovely, specially made Christmas Cards with the new map of St Leonards are available from Terry Drinkwater. Send them out soon to your customers to alert them to the Christmas events SBA has organised for the 4th and 18th December:
The Pier
Well, so far she has withstood the wind we’ve had this week. There are fears that the central section might give way leading to a collapse of the whole thing. Because of this studies are being done, (the asbestos has all been removed now), and money raised. As always, money is the problem, and it’s a bit desperate.
If you feel you could help in any way; donation, having a collection box, anything, please check out the Hastings pier website
The Pier burning in 1917
Security in your shop, Free!
The SAFER HASTINGS PARTNERSHIP has a few items left from a government funded initiative for small retailers.
If you are a Small Retailer in Hastings & St Leonards
A Retailer sells goods or commodities directly to the consumer (e.g. household, retail, newspapers, fruit and vegetable and other foods) from a fixed premise.
- Have no more than 3 shops
- have fewer than 10 staff working in each store at any one time
you could qualify to apply for any of the following equipment.
- Till screen
- Safe ( 1 hour fire rated safe ) requires fixing to suitable surface
Please contact Jacqui Lockwood 01424 451436 (jlockwood@hastings.gov.uk ) or Mike Fagan on 01424 451438 ( mfagan@hastings.gov.uk) as soon as possible. The equipment will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
-h/t: Terry Drinkwater
AND.. another freebie. a good but basic web based Bookkeeping system:www.brightbook.co.uk/
(The website is very bright. You can turn it to grey with a button at the top…)
-h/t: Clive Gross, 1066
Small Business Rates
Rates Relief Boost For Small Businesses
An estimated 530,000 small businesses will benefit from enhanced levels of rate relief under the Small Business Rate Relief scheme, which came into effect on 01 October 2010. Business properties with a rateable value of less than £18,000 (£25,000 in London) – typically those occupied by smaller businesses which experience rate charges as a higher proportion of their turnover – are eligible for a rate charge discount, with properties rated below £12,000 qualifying for a further percentage rate relief. Under the standard rates relief scheme, properties with a rateable value below £6,000 will qualify for a 50% relief, and properties with a rateable value of between £6,000 and £12,000 will receive a percentage relief calculated from 50% on a sliding scale. All properties rated below £18,000 (£25,000 in London) will pay lower rates calculated using the small business multiplier, which is 40.7 pence for 2010/11.
(Thanks to Clive Gross’s newsletter from 1066, for the info).
Upcoming Events
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Feb6Mon
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Feb21Tue
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