Taking over the chairship of an organisation is like stepping into someone else’s shoes, and that’s how it feels writing my first proper Chamber update after my introduction in last month’s issue of the Observer. Previous Chairman Peter Ryland, tall in stature and presence, certainly left some big shoes to fill but, despite me being the little to his large, I’m looking forward to the challenges of the year ahead.
Lots has been going on, with lockdowns coming and going, and now the introduction of the tiered system of living with Covid. I don’t know about you all, but I feel there is a sense of excitement in the town at the present time which, considering how the High Street in general is faring with the news of the Arcadia Group and also Debenhams going into liquidation, fills me with hope for us as a town as we move towards the New Year.
New town centre shops
We have a range of new shops that are setting up in Saltash: it was a pleasure to attend the opening of the boutique tea shop Two for Tea – a new venture for David from More Than Art; Saltash Cards has morphed into the lovely gift shop Gallery 53, and it was a pleasure to welcome Michelle and her business to the town; Michael at The Fresh Fox is now open in the place of Petit Pain, bringing a new style in refreshments to Fore Street; and the new children’s clothes and toy shop All4Smalls in Lower Fore Street is a welcome addition for all our Saltash families. We wish them all the very best of luck!
New Shopping directory website
The great team at Carbon Pixel has developed a business directory for our town where traders in Saltash and surrounding areas can upload their business information for free. We would like to get this directory populated with all our shops and traders in the town as soon as possible. To upload your details, go to https://www.shop-saltash.co.uk/ and add your profile. It’s going to be a really useful tool for residents to find local businesses to support them during these uncertain times. Thank you to Chamber member Antonia and her team at Carbon Pixel.
McColls and the Post Office is staying!
It was with great relief that we found out this week that we won’t be losing McColls or the Post Office from Fore Street. The continuity of businesses is so important to residents – especially the elderly who rely on the Post Office and all the services they continue to offer as the number of banks in the town diminishes.
Business Webinars
Cornwall Council is running a series of free webinars every Thursday in December and January (but not Christmas Eve) around guidance about how to trade safely and in compliance with the latest Covid rules and regulations. Each webinar will involve a presentation of a 15 – 20 minutes bringing people up to date with the latest changes and key issues, and will be followed by a weekly topic update. If you can’t make the webinar live a recording will be available afterwards and questions can be sent in advance. Book your place at www.businessregulatorysupport.co.uk/our-services/business-recovery/webinars/.
It just remains now for me to wish all residents, retailers and Saltash businesses the very best of Christmases considering the circumstances. I think all of us will be very glad to leave 2020 behind in the hope that 2021 brings some form of the ‘normality’ that we have been missing this year. For us as a Chamber, the coming year will bring new challenges but also opportunities as we look for ways to work together bringing our new slogan ‘Here to Help’ to life.
