LBA Meeting: Wednesday 29th October 2008
Minutes of a meeting of Linlithgow Business Association held at Playbugs in Linlithgow on Wednesday 29 October 2008 at 1930.
Present: David Tait, Chairman; Jim Hay, Treasurer; Gill Sinclair, Secretary; Gill Inglis; Anne Daly; Jon Newey; Simon Walton; John Barlett and Partner; Mike Vickers; Diane Cartwright, Playbugs Lynne, Playbugs
Apologies: Alan Young; Clare Pollock; June Stevenson; Alan McColm; Ken Richardson; Stefan Walczynski; Sarah Catterick; Nancy Aikman; Hetty Smyth; Elodie Milne.
David made the introductions of new members.
1. Minutes of the Previous Meeting Held on 03 September 2008
The minutes were agreed to be a true record of the meeting.
2. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising
3. Playbugs Presentation
Diane talked about the business she and her business partner Lynne set up in May 2008. It is a play centre for the family and has a café which provides lunch and snacks. Lynne and Diane are tapping into the local community and are encouraging nurseries and schools to visit and use the facilities at Playbugs.
A second strand to the business would be to hire out the accommodation for functions such as parties, christenings, wedding receptions and business events.
4. The Purpose of Linlithgow Business Association
David felt there was a range of activities and interests which the Association should pursue. These areas could be divided into two sections with a Vice-Chair leading each area. The Association is interested in what is going on in Linlithgow and keen to put things in place in the long term, like the event at SUN Microsystems. David is hoping the Local Authority will become involved and serious progress can be made over the next two/three years.
It is important to establish links with other organisation and David has met with Peter Roberts of Linlithgow Climate Challenge.
Members felt it was important to disseminate information about the Association in Linlithgow. One way of doing this would be a regular newsletter. It is important to sell the Association to current members as well as new ones. The Association is for the benefit of the members and businesses within Linlithgow. There are tough times ahead and businesses will be exploring every avenue in order to promote their business.
It was suggested a list of members is circulated and members as well as networking with each other could encourage others to join the Association. It was suggested each member brought one other local business person to the next meeting. The agreed target is to have 100 members by Spring 2009.
The website is an important tool and members were reminded that there is a business directory on the site with space for a large paragraph to promote each member business.
It was felt members fell into two categories; the Association will do something for them and their business or they can do something for the Association. The members in attendance said they were looking for business promotion, support, help, local knowledge and information on the pitfalls of running a small business.
Members felt the local council was unhelpful and support with dealing with the Council would be helpful. David felt the Association had made inroads into the Council over the last few years and they would be happy to help. David asked three businesses to write down the main challenges in setting up and the issues they had with the Council.
The Association with Business Gateway are running a series of seminars at Donaldson’s. The second one is next week (week commencing Monday 03 November).
Regular pieces in the Linlithgow Gazette would raise awareness and with the help of an IT wizard the proposed newsletter could be distributed to all business in Linlithgow.
It was suggested a revival of the membership discount scheme on the web site would be good. Businesses offer discount to members for services.
Finally members suggested a community newspaper, funded by advertisements, which could be distributed around every house in Linlithgow. This would give the Association and all other affiliated organisations a voice in the Town.
The Office Bearers will take onboard all these suggestions at the next Committee meeting.
5. Project for the Victoria Halls
John Newey gave a presentation on the proposal to rebuild the Victoria Halls.
John gave the history of the building and showed plans for the proposed rebuilding programme. Four shop fronts will be created, with a walkway to a courtyard of more shops. An area for leisure use (restaurant, snooker hall, bars, function room and bowling alley) will also be created. The Civic Trust and Community Council have given the go ahead to the project and Jon will now apply for planning permission. It will be a two year construction time.
6. Amber Electronic Advertising Boards
The Council is proposing to erect three amber electronic advertising boards at Low Port, the Vennel and the railway station. It was initially thought these would be used to advertise local businesses and community events, however, the cost of advertising is likely to prohibit this and large firms and big companies are more likely to advertise taking local people out of the area. The meeting agreed these boards were totally inappropriate. However, as the contract was signed two years ago it is not clear what can be done about the boards. However it was felt we had to keep pressing our views about what we wanted to see in the High Street and in that connection the Association had written to Cllr Martyn Day, Chair of the LAC.
7. Springfield Development
Mike Vickers gave an outline of the current position of the proposed Springfield development. An environmental study and a formal planning application to change the height for the development area to over 8m is the next stage. The Council have said they will object to this. The debate was widened to the High Street with views on the likely impact and current units closing or changing use. The overall consensus was that the LBA is against the development.
8. Any Other Competent Business
Shop Fronts
Consideration is being given to an initiative with the Association and the Council to improve shop fronts.
Community Boards
It was reported 7 feet tall, 6 feet wide double sided boards were being erected for community use – one of them immediately outside the front door of the Star & Garter Hotel. General consensus of the meeting was no one knew anything about the boards. David agreed to speak to Craig McCorriston about this and report back.
9. Date and Time of Next Members Meeting
24 November 2008 at Taste, High Street, Linlithgow
LBA Meeting: Wednesday 3rd September 2008
Minutes of the Meeting : Wednesday 3rd Sep in the Black Bitch
Present
David Tait, Jim Hay, Hazel Hay, Anne Daly, Clare Pollock, Jill Inglis, Nan Hay, John Bartlett, Janice King, Jim Crease, Simon Walton, Janette Shepherd
Website Update
All members are now listed on the website – but entries need to be expanded and updated. Please email a short précis of your business to sarah@sabreit.plus.com and it will be added to the site. A listing on the LBA site will boost your search engine rankings, so make sure it is up to date.
Linlithgow Stakeholder Event
The main purpose of the meeting was to gauge LBA views ahead of the stakeholder event taking place on the 8th Sep.
Background
Jim Mather, MSP (Minister of Energy, Enterprise & Tourism) has experience of running such events in other areas and they have been very successful.
There is no long-term strategic vision for Linlithgow. Groups such as the Civic Trust and Community Council have presented plans in the past, but these have never been followed through. There is now a real willingness and commitment from all interested groups to drive this forward. The Council have committed £15,000 to get the vision moving and this event will be the first step in the process.
Every stakeholder group in the area (Council and business interests, community groups, schools, associations etc.) has been invited and there have been over 60 positive replies, representing around 40 organisations. We will also have representatives from other towns who are making changes and from Consultants who have experience in this area. Our MP, MSP’s and Councillors are all attending.
So this really is a unique opportunity to build on what we have and plan for the future, but this time to take it forward. The aim is to set up an Executive Committee of 12-20 stakeholders to drive the vision forward.
Ideas and issues discussed
Location: Exceptional location – we underperform compared to similarly well placed towns. Linlithgow is regarded as a day trip destination so what can we do to increase visitors. We have enough attractions to draw visitors to the town, but they have difficulties getting in. Suggestion –pedestrianise High Street and have perimeter parking with walkways (country walk) to centre. Arguments against –other towns have found perimeter parking doesn’t work –people won’t walk. Bathgate put parking in centre and it works. Also, if traffic bypasses town centre, visitors won’t see what is on offer. Conclusion – As Palace is uniquely place in the centre of the town, visitors will walk through the town to get there –so pedestrianisation could work.
Assets: we have unique assets, but they are under-utilised. Various options for the Palace were discussed – re-roofing, arts venue, etc. Plans form other buildings - felt there is a strong case for converting one to a quality hotel –with a good function suite.
Alternative suggestions –convert the Sherriff Court into a Drama or Art College (JN) -this was considered to be a great idea –would bring a buzz to the town, encourage more for young people to do and bring in their parents with disposable income. What about an upmarket holiday park at Beecraigs - again would encourage families to base themselves here and use the town facilities.
Business Districts: Linlithgow is not considered a business destination, mainly due to infrastructure issues, but if these were improved, we could market an attractive business proposition, given our location.
If anyone has anything else they would like to add to the melting pot ahead of Monday, please email by return.
Anne
Anne Daly
LBA, Secretary
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