Teignmouth Traders Association

www.teignmouthtradersassociation.co.uk

 Minutes of General Meeting held at the South Pacific

 Wednesday 3^rd September 2008

Meeting started at 6.30pm

Apologies:  Chris Evans, Neil Johns, Matthew Kelly & Sam Robins.

Previous minutes were approved by Angela & Gill.

Christmas Lights:  Ian & the focus group members went around the town to ascertain the positions and sites for the lights.  It is proposed that we use LED lighting in Blue & white throughout with white twinkle lighting to trees in Den Road, Triangle, French Street, Regent Street, Pellew Arcade & Northumberland Place and lighting displays attached to various lamp-posts in Hollands Road, Station Road, Regent Street, Wellington Street, Bank Street, Orchard Gardens, Northumberland Place, The Triangle & Waterloo Street and Brunswick street.  Cllr David Cox has promised £1000.00 towards costs from his allocated budget.

All the above is in addition to the Council providing the Xmas tree plus tree and railing lights as last year in the main area of triangle.

We would need to obtain permission from SEC to use power from lamp posts, if this was not possible we could possibly use the existing electric points set up for the wave lights if they can be made operational.  Apparently the existing electric boxes make a lot of noise and residents have complained so there were suggestions on how to eliminate this problem including using the LED lights as mentioned above which are noise free.

As the existing Wavy lights are with us until Nov 2009 we will ask that the council find available funding to sort out the repairs and maintenance until replacements can be made.  

Cllr James McMurray says he wasn’t too keen on the Wavy lights but as we are stuck with them for another 12 months or so then we need to find ways of sourcing electricity and get something on a smaller scale for this year and then perhaps taking the wavy lights down and find suitable replacements for next year.  He was also horrified at what has happened in the past with funding etc.  (There was a lot of discussion, too much to be minuted!)  James does need a rough figure of the costs to put forward.

Until we get an idea of where we can connect it will be hard to get a correct figure but we have had some quotes in the past, which the council are already aware of.

Signage:  Further requirements to promote the town are to get the Council to provide adequate signage to direct people into the town.  We need arrowed signs to say “Teignmouth Town Centre”, “Shops”, “Parking” and “Sea Front”.  Preferably located: on the roundabouts by Orchard Gardens and by the Station.  Also Members felt we could use signage from Bishopsteignton, Shaldon Bridge (both ends), Exeter Road and Dawlish Road.  The costs of these should be met by the council and would be a once only payment, except improvement and maintenance costs.

There is a Council Meeting next Tuesday the 9^th of September at 6.30pm in Bitton House where Brenda & Ian are going to put forward the proposals for the lights & signage.  Ian has prepared a report.  AS MANY MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND TO SHOW SUPPORT – PLEASE ATTEND IF YOU CAN.

• Angela asked if Teignbridge would help with funding, but apparently they don’t fund anything.
• It was suggested that Shops in the town had collection boxes displayed asking for donations from the community for the lighting, will have to check legal status.
• Everyone must try and put their own lights and displays up for Christmas, which most do already.

Carlton Theatre:  There was a meeting tonight about the redevelopment of the Carlton Theatre.  Yvonne, Mike, Sam & Iain attended.  Report from Yvonne: (to follow)

Teign Estuary Focus Group:  There is a meeting on Tues 23^rd Sep at the Yacht Club re: Recreation and Tourism - 7 – 8.30pm for those who would like to attend.

Treasurers Report:  Not available as the treasure did not attend the meeting.

Produce Market:  Comments were invited about the market but as the weather was really bad it was felt that we didn’t get a true feeling of the market, although there were a few traders that were not very happy about it.  These include: Sheila Tibbs – Tibbs Greengrocers, Mark Tibbs – Yellands Bakery, Colin Redfern – Redferns Butchers and Regency News to name a few, although some of these and others who complained are not members of this Association Cllr Fusco was informed of their feelings, it was felt that these traders should get the Chamber of Trade to speak for them.

It was suggested that if the Triangle Traders didn’t want the market there then move the Produce Market to another part of the town, although Tracey Higgs has said to the chairman that the stall holders are not in favour of this, it was then said that out of town traders should not be able to dictate to Teignmouth officials that are here for the town and that if they would not comply with the wishes of the town then, others are ready to come in their place.  Also can we find out how many people used the “Free Bus”, and there didn’t seem to be as much advertising about the market as we thought there would be.

AOB:

• Cllr Fusco felt there was not enough publicity advertising events in the town and asked if Traders would be willing to put up posters in their windows to try and promote events. – Agreed.
• Mike at Fairweather News asked if there could be more events scheduled for the Northumberland Place end of town.
• Richard from The Beach said we were all asked to advertise events in other towns so therefore maybe we should ask other towns to support our advertising also.
• Paul asked if the Treasurer should be asked if he wished to be replaced as he has not attended some of the meetings and has sent no apologies or a report; and as this is a high profile job the members agreed and felt we should ask David of his intentions.
• News items for the Website:  any news items that should be included on the website should be forwarded to jacky.forte@3treesorganics.com Xmas light funding will be put on.
• Brenda will be away for a month so will need someone to Chair two or three meetings whilst she is away – volunteer please.
• Iain suggested that we have our own festival next year.  A “St Georges Festival” in April of next year.  St Georges Day is on 23^rd April so we could do it in the week around that date.  If all the committee members did one job to help then no one person would be left to run it.   If the TTA put up £1000 then this would provide advertising, bunting & flags to all members, and also pay for some entertainment maybe a Knight on horseback going around the town looking for the dragon!  We could get schools, churches and lots of the organizations in the town involved.  It would be good publicity for the town as it is a fairly unique idea.  (Dragon and other ideas were coming in thick and fast).  Choirs, jousting, bands, window dressing, painting competitions etc.  We will need to check on insurance but Iain felt this could be included in the initial fee of £1000.  We could also ask the council for some funding.  All present members were in favour.
• Cllr Vince Fusco said that Teignmouth lacks identity and we need to think long term about what we can do to promote our town and make it stand out and make people want to come here.  Any ideas please let him know.  Jill felt that the council should be helping to give us ideas.  Brenda said we should draw a line under what has happened in the past and look to the future that is why this association has come together, we are already making a difference and the council are listening to us.
• There is no update as yet on the Xmas or Continental Markets as no one has responded.  Probably too late for Xmas market this year but maybe Continental Market for Easter. 
• It was suggested for this year that we put on our own Xmas market between local traders, 8 members present said they would do a stall, any others wishing to take part please let Brenda know.  Cllr Fusco will look into whether we can obtain a temporary traders licence.  If it is possible then we should be able to use the stalls from Teignmouth Council.
• It was asked if we could put reports in the local papers.  The Teignmouth News has no reporter at the moment and when they do get one he will be based in Newton Abbot.  It was felt that we should just go with the T’mothian Publication at the moment and members are asked to support this publication as it is uniquely for Teignmouth.
• There will be a TTA Christmas Dinner held at the South Pacific.  Date, time and price to be decided later.

Next Meeting:  Wednesday 1^st October 2008 at 6.30pm in the Oystercatchers Cafe.

Meeting closed at 8.15pm.

posted by Teignmouth Traders Association  # 17:15