THIS IS LONGER THAN USUAL
BUT PLEASE READ THE POINTS CAREFULLY,
THEY HAVE A BEARING ON YOUR BUSINESS.

Firstly may we wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year. The normal greeting would have added "prosperous" but we know that you are all aware that, even with a fair wind behind us, this year will only produce flat growth in most instances on the High Street. If we get the survival package in place in Aberdare and District this year it will be a major success.

We have objected on behalf of membership to plans for extensive additional retail development on the outskirts of Llantrisant on the basis that it is less than twenty miles from us as an existing Town, and will not be sustainable alongside existing retail High Streets in this financial climate. Our objection sits alongside a similar objection from Rhondda Cynon Taff Chambers of Trade & Commerce.

We attended the first Budget Setting Exercise with RCT on behalf of the membership prior to Christmas and will attend the second part of the exercise shortly. We asked for urgent consideration to be given to FREE CAR PARKING in the Town Centre, following the model of other Welsh Towns that see it as key to survival, and following the advice of the Mary Portas Report into High Streets. We are assured that details of the incoming revenue on car parking will be made available. Photographs kindly supplied by the Market management, of an almost empty car parking situation in Aberdare only days before Christmas spoke volumes. Copies were taken away by the Officers. We have made a plea for all promotional material for the town to be accurate, detailed and taken to the shops for distribution in good time before events. Also for a promotional situation to be established in the Town Centre for posters to trailer films being shown at The Coliseum where attendance could be vastly improved if people were informed. We recommended that the actual meetings to discuss the budget should be brought together. There is natural overlap between all the parties interested, in the way in which our money is spent and the current system seems unduly extended with separate meetings and Roadshows all of which cost money. We asked for charitable donations made through RCT to be scrutinised to ensure there was genuine benefit and distribution to favour activities for young people. We argued for litter collection to be simplified to get best use of time allotted. In some instances brooms could beat individual picking up of each and every cigarette end.

We have had a very productive meeting with Christine Chapman A.M. on the urgent matter of possible changes to Welsh Planning Policy that could bring a more level playing field between the High Streets and Malls / Superstores. We are due to meet John Griffiths A.M. Minister for Sustainability to discuss recommendations for alterations that could help to bring this about. There
is now Cross Party ambition to hard wire FAIRNESS into ongoing Government policy and we feel our suggestions could augment this approach and demonstrate that the political faction are actually
listening to the views of those at the sharp end. She stressed we should keep eyes on the Tourism ball.

The first Town Centre Forum Meeting of this year took place at St. Mair's and it was encouraging to see rather more traders in attendance than usual. We put that down to excellent newsletters from Aberdare Town Centre Regeneration / Construction Bulletin that have been distributed to traders by RCT. Many points regarding the practise of the workmen, timescale of the works, possible benefits were discussed and emma.davies@alungriffiths.co.uk can be contacted if any retailer or member has problems associated with the building work. She attended the meeting and is keen to ensure minimum disruption during works. Telephone her on 0844 56 111 94.

It is proposed and agreed that there should be an Action Plan for the Town and retailers anxious to ensure that we get first class promotion through joint working of the retail community and the Council are encouraged to let us know priorities and attend the Town Centre Forum Meetings to ensure that the wishes of the trading community are knitted into ongoing plans. There is a possibility of a website for the town to raise the profile of our independent traders and other members. We recommended that this be approached with enthusiasm but that caution over cost should be exercised on the basis that there is very little money to promote the town and we wish it to go as far as possible. There are plans to forge links with the new community hospital. Advertising may be appropriate etc. The Townscape Initiative includes discussion of public artwork to raise the cultural profile of the Town and we have attended meetings regarding the work being carried out in front of Aberdare Library, and there is still room for input into public artwork opposite St. Elvan's central to the Town.

Please remember that this organization is your own voice amplified through an organization that has represented membership for over one hundred years. For those without the time to make individual representation to the Local Authority and Wales Assembly Government we are your natural interface. Let us have your views.

CYNON VALLEY AS WE KNOW IT, WOULD BE SCRAPPED UNDER NEW PROPOSALS FOR COUNTY BOUNDARIES, AND WE COULD LOSE OUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
HAVING AN INDIVIDUAL VOICE COUNTS.

DO YOU AGREE THAT WE SHOULD RETAIN A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT ?

YES-------------------NO-----------------

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS_________________________________________

BUSINESS NAME ETC___________________________________________

Please register your full name and business in your reply, or better still email us with that information. We will then be able to send all news, more news in fact, in that medium thereby becoming paperless. Our Christmas Newsletter was distributed by hand to 225 businesses and that cost time, two and a half days, and should have cost money. Incidentally, the present officers of the Chamber have not claimed expenses for years if ever.

RCT ARE RUNNING A CONSULTATION IN WHICH YOU MAY WISH TO TAKE PART
http://www.rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk
/en/councildemocracy/consultations/currentconsultation/currentconsultation.aspx

B A Le Carpentier

Bourke A. Le Carpentier (President)