Serving the District of Wigtown, Wigtownshire, southwest Scotland

Membership News

Chamber membership continues to grow with the latest members, Agnes and Billy Cluckie of the Wigtown Ploughman Hotel. Other recent members include Galloway Granite/Signs at Sorbie and AP&R Baker. We now have the largest membership of any local business organisation in Mid Galloway.

Newsletter

The last Board meeting heard that around 25 per cent of members do not have an email address. It was decided, therefore, that copies of this newsletter will be sent out to them by post or hand delivered where practical.

Markets

The Chamber has agreed at the last Board meeting to support the Wigtown Market with a financial donation towards marketing leaflets which will be distributed to all accommodation providers and caravan parks in the area. Despite the Easter weekend market having been cancelled at the last minute because the public liability insurance had not come through in time and atrocious weather the following weekend leaving the market traders packing up early, the weather since, at the time of writing, has improved considerably allowing for optimism to develop for the weeks to come.

A meeting with market traders at the beginning of the month at which the Chamber was represented was very upbeat about the possibilities for promoting and growing the market. The Chamber is committed to ensuring that it will do all that it can to keep the market vibrant as this is an important attraction.

Roadside signs are now being put up on market days onvarious roads into Wigtown including on the A75 at Newton Stewart in both directions and the possibility of making the market a two-day event, Saturday and Sunday, is also being explored alongside a suggestion that the Sunday market might also include a car boot sale element to it.

The licence, which covers the entire Square area right round past The County Buildings and back to the Cross, lasts for three years, so will allow for any expansion of the market which, everyone at the meeting agreed, would be worth aiming for.

However, proposals to put the bus stance back at the Park entrance were a cause for concern. These proposals have been endorsed by Wigtown Community Council who succesfully opposed the creation of a bus stance outside The Bookshop in North Main Street and the build-outs which would have gone with the Council’s original scheme.

The feeling of the market traders is that, if the buses go back to the park entrance, the market would effectively be killed off.

It is, therefore, the intention of the Chamber to raise the issue at the forthcoming meeting of Wigtown Community Council on Monday, April 14th.

In addition, Debbie Firth reported at the last meeting that she and Anne Strachan were hoping to arrange a farmers/produce market alongside the existing market in time for the late May Bank Holiday weekend.

Funding Issues

As members will be aware, there has been some discussion over the best way to attract funding to allow the Chamber to put the organisation of events on a firmer footing rather than having to rely solely on voluntary effort.

Discussion at the last Board meeting suggested that more detailed examination of the BIDS scheme would be required before a decision could be made - not least, how much money could realistically be raised if such a scheme were in place.

Angela Everitt reported that she would support, but not lead, a funding bid to Leader+ which would run until 2013 as a continuation to the previous successful Leader + funded transnational project.

There was some confusion among members present about the nature of the funding and what it would cover. Angela reported that, if the Chamber were successful in gaining a second round of Leader + funding, the money could be used to support a variety of economic regeneration initiatives on the back of the report carried out from the previous project. The second phase would allow for the recommendations to be actioned and, as such, our application should be positively received, especially as the Chamber had been invited to re-apply.

This is indeed good news.

Together with this, the Chamber has held discussions with Machars Action who are seeking to buy their South Main Street premises from the Council to allow their work to continue on a firmer footing. Our discussions centred on the way in which the Chamber could work more closely with Machars Action who are also looking to secure funding for a development worker. This individual could, it was suggested, by used by the Chamber to carry out specific economic regeneration projects such as, supporting the growth of the market, organising events to draw visitors to the area, etc.

Enquiries to the Chamber

The Chamber has received and dealt with two enquiries from people looking to locate businesses in Wigtown. One enquiry was from the North East of England and the other from London.

Events

Plans for a Sci-fi event in Wigtown based on Dr Who appears to be gathering some momentum. Ian Woods has been making enquiries and is reasonably optimistic about the possibilities of such an event taking place sometime this year. This would be a significant draw for visitors and an exciting opportunity to raise the profile of Wigtown further afield. The Chamber, I am sure, will give its backing and support it in any way we can.

I-Van

Debbie Firth has been organising a visit from Dumfries and Galloway College’s i-Van following a very positive uptake from members.

The i-Van is a European Regional Development Funded Project and its purpose is to deliver training and workshops primarily to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).

The vehicle is customised with Satellite Broadband Internet connectivity. It has a small compact office inside and a rear storage area with 12 laptops with wireless capability. However, the Wigtown sessions (there will most likely be two because of the take up) will take place in the County Buildings.

The Project is concerned with raising awareness and increasing the use of ICT within SMEs. This leads to an improvement in the skills level of staff, in efficiency, in sustainability and in business competitiveness.

The Project aims to raise awareness of the benefits of the internet, e-business, the use of ICT for accounting, financial and administrative activities.

There is a maximum of 12 at each session. The first is planned for 1.30pm on Wednesday 7th May and the second for 6.30pm on Tuesday 13th May. Please contact Debbie on 01988 402018 if you would like to attend either session.

Next Meeting

The next Board meeting of the Chamber will be held at The Bladnoch Distillery on April 24th, starting at 7.30pm. All members welcome.

Peter Jeal
President

Next meeting:

The next meeting of the Chamber is on Thursday, March 27th, 2008, at the Bladnoch Distillery at 7pm, courtesy of Raymond. All Chamber members are encouraged to attend.

BIDS meeting report:
At our last meeting on February 28th, Ian Davison-Porter came all the way to Wigtown from Aberfoyle to give a presentation on BIDS (Business Improvement Districts Scotland). I am bound to say that this was not the Chamber’s finest hour as there was a dismal turnout at this meeting, despite having been well publicised to Chamber members well in advance. It was embarrassing, to say the least.

The apparent lack of interest shown by local businesses in even finding out about this scheme - which has delivered economic prosperity in thousands of places worldwide - suggests that the general feeling among traders here is that business is booming to such an extent that there really was no need to take 60 minutes out from Eastenders to consider such projects. The result is, the Chamber is still no nearer to gauging what level of support exists for BIDS even among its own members, let alone the wider business community.

For those who did support this meeting - thank you. The feeling among those who were there, including our local councillor, Sandra McDowall, is that BIDS does offer genuine possibilities for Wigtown and the wider Machars area.

For anyone who feels that they could do with a few more customers coming through their doors, copies of the BIDS brochures are available from the Chamber. Contact me at: president@dw-chamber.org.uk

To recap on information already contained in previous Chamber newsletters - BIDS is a scheme where, instead of just a handful of businesses and volunteers getting together and struggling to bring about initiatives to attract visitors for the greater prosperity of everyone, everybody contributes which is fairer and far more equitable than the current arrangements. Given that the Scottish Government is phasing out Business Rates starting this April - there has probably never been a better time to consider becoming a BIDS district and, incidentally, the first rural BIDS area in Scotland. Not only would Wigtown qualify for the £15,000 set aside for new BIDS applications by the Scottish Government, but it is more than likely that, to ensure the success of the first rural BIDS area, other support would also be given.

What I had not appreciated before is that, to apply to become a BIDS district, the Chamber board can decide, on behalf of all its member businesses, to press ahead provided the number of members exceeds 10 per cent of businesses with a Rateable Value in the BIDS area chosen. In effect, as the last meeting was quorate, the decision could have been taken there and then by those present to apply to become a BIDS district.

It appears also that, in order for the scheme to be launched, only 50 per cent of a minimum 25 per cent ballot ‘turnout’ need to vote in favour for ALL businesses in the BIDS area to be levied. That equates to about a third of businesses. As the levy would be collected by the Council under legal powers, the levy has to be paid, there’s no get-out clause Taking a wider view of BIDS, the private/public partnership aspect of this (Council and businesses) means that far more cash can be drawn in from a host of other sources, not just the levy and this money can allow for some substantial projects to be taken forward to deliver greater economic prosperity for businesses and, of course, the wider community.

At the next meeting, I will be seeking Board approval to formally apply for BIDS status as a Chamber.

Thanks to Anne Strachan for agreeing to take the minutes and William and Ryan of the Wigtown Youth Forum for assisting with the Powerpoint equipment at the last meeting.

Bladnoch Distillery

Thanks to Raymond for allowing the Chamber to hold its meetings at the Bladnoch Distillery.

Hillcrest House

Congratulations on your recent award.

Agenda

District of Wigtown Chamber of Commerce

Board Meeting Thursday 27th March 2008, 7pm @The Bladnoch Distillery

Please address all comments through the Chair and keep discussion as brief and to the point as possible to allow the meeting to close by 9pm.

AGENDA

1) Welcome and apologies

2) Minutes of the meeting held on February 28th, 2008

3) Matters arising from the Minutes

4) Secretary’s Report & Correspondence

5) Treasurer’s Report

6) President’s Report

7) Membership Update

8) BIDS - the next step

10) Markets Report (Group: Anne Strachan, Debbie Firth, Sandra McDowall, Tom Henry, Tony Caldwell)

a) Update

b) Timescales of actions

c) Funding/Promotion

11) Scottish and Regional Chambers (Roy Surplice)

12) Transnational Project/Becherel visit (Joyce Watson)

13) Any Other Business

Look forward to seeing members there.
Peter Jeal
President

January Newsletter of the District of Wigtown Chamber of Commerce

The economic regeneration priorities of the Chamber are starting to shape up and, at the January board meeting held at the Bladnoch Distillery, it was decided that two projects should be moved forward. The first is the development of the existing Wigtown Market to incorporate a food and craft fair following earlier discussion about staging a large farmers’ market in the town. Now that the decision has been made to press ahead with this project, Anne Strachan and Debbie Firth, who make up our newly-formed markets sub-group, will meet with the Wigtown Markets Group (Sandra McDowall, who was present at the Chamber meeting, Tony Caldwell and Tom Henry) to discuss the next step for a joint initiative.

Farmers’ markets have grown rapidly across the UK in recent years and what is clear is that they deliver a tangible and positive economic impact wherever they are held. Whilst there are specific issues in Wigtown, however, the view is that, provided the enlarged market has sufficient ‘critical mass’ and is well promoted, it could become a successful regular event attracting significant footfall into the town for the benefit of all the town’s existing businesses. Member businesses will be automatically informed when events like this are being held so that they can ensure they reap the maximum benefit from the additional visitors to the town.

We would encourage those businesses who are not members to join the Chamber without delay as this is one of the benefits of Chamber membership. We would also encourage member businesses to put forward their views, suggestions and comments as your input is valued and is important to YOUR business! The plan is that the market should have a minimum of 30 to 40 stalls with a significant local produce/food element to it. One suggested name for this larger event is ‘The County Market.’ Adrian Turpin, representing the Book Festival Company, told the meeting that the Company would like to see at least one of these larger markets held to coincide with the Festival itself. In this way, it would benefit from the extra visitor numbers already in the town for the Festival which would ensure a greater chance of its success and encourage producers/stallholders to return.

It was pointed out, however, that the objective of the larger market is to attract people to the town outwith the Festival fortnight in order to boost support for book traders and other shops in the town at quieter times of the year.

If you are a lapsed member who has not renewed your membership, we would urge you to do so now so that you can be kept up-to-date with developments on this and other important initiatives designed to help support YOUR business. Please note that this newsletter will not be sent to non-paid up members after February, 2008 - so if you wish to remain informed - you will need to support the Chamber’s efforts to support you.

The other initiative which the board decided should be moved forward is Business Improvement Districts (BIDS). What was clear during the discussions at the Board meeting is that no initiative can be fully developed by a handful of volunteers who have their own businesses to run, working with little or no support from the wider community.

These initiatives need to be funded and a paid development worker put in place to organise events outwith the Book Festival. BIDS may provide the solution to the funding issue and the Board agreed to invite a BIDS representative, together with Piotr Lewicki of the Council’s Economic Regeneration team, to the February meeting (28th, County Buildings, 6.30pm) to explain BIDS and what it could deliver for Wigtown and district.

If the Board then agree in principle to move towards setting up BIDS here, a public meeting will be held for all businesses - not just Chamber members - to attend. A more formal presentation of BIDS would be delivered, together with the experiences of traders in other towns where the scheme presently operates and there will be the opportunity for questions and answers.

At that point, the level of support for BIDS from the local business community will become clear. Mr Davison-Porter has already confirmed his attendance and PLEASE NOTE that the meeting will be held at THE COUNTY BUILDINGS to allow for a Powerpoint presentation to be made.

Letters have been sent out to all paid-up members together with a Membership window sticker. Please display this sticker prominently in the window of your business to show solidarity with the aims and objectives of the Chamber. Please advise if you would like an extra sticker for your company vehicle, for example.

Letters have also been sent out to lapsed members encouraging them to rejoin. To those who have not yet renewed their membership but who are still receiving this newsletter, we would urge you to do so and be a part of the efforts to bring more trade and prosperity into this area. This newsletter will only be circulated to lapsed members for one more month - February - and then will stop. The details of lapsed members who have not renewed will also be removed from the Chamber website at the end of February.

Peter Jeal President

WIGTOWN could follow in the footsteps of New York's world-famous Times Square to become a Business Improvement District if the move receives the backing of local traders.

The idea was put forward to the Board of the District of Wigtown Chamber of Commerce at their December meeting by President, Peter Jeal. It was decided to start the consultation process with both member and non-member businesses with a view to calling an open meeting early in the New Year at which the scheme would be outlined in detail.

If there is general support for the idea, then a ballot could be held to determine whether Wigtown should become Scotland's seventh BIDS area and the first rural partnership under the scheme North of the Border. "I believe that BIDS offers Wigtown and other small communities across Galloway a real opportunity to deliver economic growth," insisted Mr Jeal, who recently met with a senior BIDS official to discuss the scheme and what it could offer the area. "There is no doubt that Business Improvement Districts are becoming a global success story," he said. "There are over thirty in Britain and thousands throughout the world.

Because of that success, I believe that this is something local businesses in Wigtown and other small towns should seriously consider as a means of boosting their economic fortunes," added Mr Jeal, who was involved in the economic regeneration of Coventry, a city which now also has a BIDS scheme in place.

BIDs is a partnership between local businesses, engaging with their council, all with the aim of transforming their area by creating better business environments and promoting economic growth. A Business Improvement District can only come into existence if it is approved in a secret ballot governed by three specific Acts of Parliament: The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (Business Improvement Districts Levy) Order 2007; The Business Improvement Districts (Scotland) Regulations 2007; The Business Improvement Districts (Ballot Arrangements) (Scotland) Regulations 2007. Of those businesses that vote, over 50% must vote in favour. "Once a scheme is in place, it ensures that every business in that area contributes to agreed measures to help improve the trading conditions of their businesses," said Mr Jeal. "It cuts out 'freeloading' where some businesses contribute and others simply sit back and benefit from economic initiatives without having contributed a single penny themselves.

"Whilst some businesses may say they cannot afford to contribute anything, the alternative for many is potentially stagnation and decline. "Unless we are constantly moving forward, we are in decline," he said.

Scotland's first six BIDS schemes in Bathgate, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Inverness and Clackmananshire received £1/2m of Government funding. But because BIDS represent the strongest possible partnership between the private and public sector - the local authority collects the levies on behalf of the scheme - BIDS tick all the right boxes when it comes to securing additional funding sources including match-funding.

Tom McCabe, the former Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform said during the launch of BIDS in Scotland last year: "Our top priority is to grow the Scottish economy - and I believe Business Improvement Districts can play an important role in contributing to long-term economic growth. "BIDs have proved successful elsewhere and I am confident these pilots projects will pave the way for successful BIDs in Scotland. "This is not about what we can do for business but what businesses can do for themselves."

"Crucially, proposals will only go ahead if more than half of those businesses vote in favour of the proposals and that also represents more than half of the rateable value of those eligible to vote. This gives protection to large and small businesses."

BIDS Project Director, Ian Davison Porter said that 99% of all BIDS schemes which have been re-balloted have voted to remain in existence, such has been the positive impact for businesses of such schemes in the areas in which they operate. "For us here in Mid Galloway, it's all about ensuring our towns have a viable economic future," said Mr Jeal. "The idea that traders can operate in isolation, suspicious of each other is an attitude which simply has no future if they want to survive," he added. "The key is working together in a concerted way and with a vision which will help take advantage the many opportunities this area has and which can be delivered - not on the basis of reluctant volunteers, but with professional assistance paid for through the scheme." "The ability to raise funding not only through the levy but more importantly through additional funding sources allows practical measures to be put in place to generate additional footfall and trade.

"The District of Wigtown Chamber of Commerce is currently considering a range of positive initiatives designed to improve trade levels in Wigtown and Whithorn," said Mr Jeal. "But if any of these are to genuinely succeed, it cannot be simply left to a few people on voluntary basis to see them through. Every business must either pull their weight or make a financial contribution so that these efforts can be put on a serious and stable footing," he concluded. Anyone who requires further information should contact president@dw-chamber.org.uk Further information on BIDS can be found at: www.bids-scotland.com

Welcome to the December newsletter which is designed to keep you in touch with the work that the Chamber is doing on your behalf. I would encourage you to comment on any of the issues raised as your feedback is invaluable in influencing policy decisions. I can be contacted at: president@dw-chamber.org.uk Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce.

Roy Surplice and I recently met with Gordon Mann and Amanda Hyde of the Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce to explore possible benefits of membership. Gordon was keen to stress the increased lobbying power of a region-wide chamber. However, the Wigtown Chamber would simply become a 'committee' with representation on the main board. After some discussion at our December Board meeting on the 13th, it was decided that the District of Wigtown Chamber should remain independent as we are better able to represent the interests of our members at a local level rather than at a Dumfries level.

Business Improvement Districts Scotland Earlier this month, I met with Ian Davidson-Porter of BIDS to find out more about the scheme and how it works. From initially knowing nothing about BIDS, I left the meeting very impressed with what BIDS could potentially deliver for our area and our businesses.

At present, wherever there are regeneration initiatives, only a small percentage of businesses tend to contribute anything to them although those which don't contribute also benefit from any additional footfall and increased trading levels that result from them. This is clearly unfair and so, the BIDS scheme was devised to prevent such 'freeloading' and increase the effectiveness of economic regeneration efforts.

Once an area has applied to become a BIDS district, businesses in that area are balloted and, if the majority agree, the area becomes a BIDS district. A levy is then collected from every business in that area by the Council on behalf of the local BIDS scheme which decides, in consultation with the businesses, what the level of the levy should be and how the money collected on their behalves should be spent. But the really powerful part of this proposition is that BIDS schemes tick all the right boxes for council and external funding because they represent the strongest possible public/private partnership working.

This extra money can amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of funding over and above the money collected by the levies which can be as little as £1 a week. BIDS schemes have the backing of governments in the countries in which they now operate.

Businesses are re-balloted at intervals determined by the businesses themselves and run for a maximum of five years before re-balloting has to take place. This was discussed at the December meeting of the Chamber and it was felt that it would be useful to make member businesses aware of BIDS - which this newsletter does - and to look at hosting a special presentation on the scheme by Mr Davidson-Porter, probably in the County Buildings in the New Year, at which member and non-member businesses would be encouraged to attend and participate.

Mr Davidson-Porter has further indicated that a trader from an existing BIDS partnership in Scotland would also be in attendance to answer questions from the floor and to speak about his or her experiences of the scheme. Once opinion is gauged, a decision can then be taken as to whether local businesses would like to become a BIDS district. Interestingly, 99 per cent of BIDS areas which have been re-balloted, have decided to renew the scheme because of the positive impact it has had on their trading levels.

More information is available online at: www.bids-scotland.co.uk

Working Groups At the December meeting, it was decided to set up the following working groups to help develop a range of initiatives for the benefit of all traders in the District. All members are welcome and, indeed, encouraged to join these working groups and input into them. Please contact me to volunteer for any working group which is of interest to you.

The groups are as follows:

1. Membership - Bobbie Ingram has volunteered to join this group to assist our membership secretary, David Lever.
2. Economic Regeneration/Marketing - Myself and Paul Chilvers-Grierson have agreed to join this one.
3. Markets - Debbie Firth and Anne Strachan have volunteered for this one. This is an exciting project to bring a sizeable farmers market (30-plus stalls) to Wigtown, possibly monthly if the pilot is successul, but certainly quarterly and tie it into the Book Town with cookery authors/cookery demonstrations, books on farming, etc. A great opportunity to sell, for example, cookery books and boost trade in the town in general. An excellent opportunity to grow footfall into Wigtown. It was also agreed to look at staging markets in Whithorn as well with a mediaeval theme perhaps. Watch this space.
4. Becherel/Little Towns of Character - Roy Surplice and Bobbie Ingram have volunteered for this one. Wigtownshire Currency Project Some members may be aware of a suggestion to look at a successful scheme operating in a small community in Canada which has raised more than $100,000 for community funds. This money could be used to provide marketing materials to attract visitors, Christmas lights, public flower displays, etc., if we were to launch it here. The basic principle of the scheme is to produce our own 'currency' (notes) which, although they would have no legal status and would officially be gift vouchers, could fulfil a number of positive benefits.

The first is that they would help to raise the profile of Wigtownshire through press coverage, etc., which, in turn, would help increase the number of visitors to the area. Secondly, the notes would be highly collectable and could be marketed as such, thus boosting income revenue. The third is that they would make ideal souvenirs for visitors to take home with them rather than spend. Each denomination would depict a different scene from the area, depicted by local artists.

The notes would be printed against real money deposited at a bank under a strictly controlled community monetary trust, possibly run jointly by the Chamber, Community Council and any other interested groups. In this way, local traders could have confidence in accepting the notes/vouchers as payment as they could be cashed for real money at the bank. The start capital would have to be sourced from external funding such as the lottery, but as a community regeneration idea, it surely must count as one of the most unusual! Because it has a successful track record in Canada, it is an idea that I would like to see genuinely considered here before positions are taken on it. We have nothing to lose by looking at and considering it before making any judgements for or against such an idea. After all, if we could copy the success of Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, the area could have significant community funds. How many Christmas lights could be funded with $100,000, for example?

The relevance of the Becherel project to Wigtown Some people may have been tempted to ask why on earth did Wigtown become involved in a project with the French book town of Becherel when we have, perhaps, more pressing needs back home. This was one of the questions answered by former Chamber President, Angela Everitt, who helped drive the Becherel project forward, when she gave an excellent presentation which was open to all Chamber members at the Bladnoch Distillery earlier this month. Sadly, the attendance was not that high, but the presentation was very informative. The answer to the question was that the project attracted Leader+ funding as the first trans-national project in Dumfries and Galloway. This allowed Becherel and, more importantly to us, Wigtown, to carry out detailed research and put together recommendations on sustaining the Book Town and making it even more successful in future.

The information contained within it is a must-read for every book business in Wigtown if you have not already seen a copy. Among the key recommendations for the future include strengthening and diversifying our retail base as a town to complement our core book business element as well as efforts to grow our book business base. But the project has also provided the opportunity to share useful experiences and data between us and Becherel so that we can learn from each other. An interesting fact is that Becherel has the same number of book businesses as Wigtown despite having been a book town for twice as long.

New Chamber members We welcome Galloway and Ayrshire Properties, Newton Stewart and Lorraine Channell of Glaisnock Guest House as new members.

Business Rates The Chamber has received a reply from Nicola Sturgeon's office confirming that the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which will be administered by local councils, will, from April 1st, 2008, progressively reduce the rates burden for businesses with properties whose combined rateable value is £15,000 or less. By 2010-11, the Scottish Government will remove the rates burden on businesses with rateable values of £8,000 or less; cut rates by half for businesses with rateable values of £8,001 to £10,000; and reduce rates by a quarter for businesses with rateable values of £10,001 to £15,000. The Scottish Government estimate this will cut rates bills on around 150,000 properties across Scotland. The scheme will be delivered in full by April 2010 or earlier if resources permit.

Chamber meetings An informal get-together is to be held on January 19th at the Bladnoch Distllery between 7pm - 9pm to give all members the chance to network, discuss their priorities, the Chamber and anything else, but most of all to have the chance to meet socially over a glass of wine. Please email me no later than January 9th to confirm your attendance.

The Board very much look forward to seeing you there. Our main meetings in 2008 will now take place on the fourth Thursday of every month, except December when it will be the third Thursday. The venue for the January meeting will be the Bladnoch Distillery. The dates are as follows: January 24 February 28 March 27 April 24 May 22 June 26 July 24 August 21 September 25 October 23 November 28 December 18

All members are welcome and encouraged to attend. We would remind all members that the efforts of the Chamber are very much for the benefit of your businesses, so your input would be greatly appreciated and valued. Those businesses which have not renewed their membership, we would encourage you to do so. May I also take this opportunity of wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Peter Jeal President president@dw-chamber.org.uk