Lymm Village Traders
Meeting Minutes 7th October 2009
Agenda
• Review of the recent advertising campaign and pay and display
• Spar
• Planning
• Christmas 2009 –what are we going to do to bring extra trade into the village – ideas and discussion
• Any other business:
Security
Youth Club
Attendees.
Hilary Hoyle – Arches, Phil and Sarah Sexton – Sextons Bakery, Mark Harrison– Harrisons, Gary Skentlebery – Lymm Life, Charlotte Sumbland – The Cheshire Set, June Gittins – Elastomer and Lymm Parish Council, Steph Jones and Sharon Chartres – Mood Design Solutions – Gaelle White – prospective trader.
Apologies.
Barbara Blundell – Bee Chic, Tamarin –Lymm Pages, Banner and Co, Ann Johnstone – Lymm Festival Committee, Anthony and Sarah Battersby –The Sweet Shop, Edgar Art.
• Review of the pay and display ad campaign.
This has been a success with good feedback from both residents and traders. After issues with the first delivery a distribution company was used the second time with 5thousand delivered to homes with an extra 1k in circulation. The third time the issues had been resolved with most Lymm homes receiving a copy. It was proposed that door to door should continue for the next 3 months up to Christmas to see if the response rates to adverts is any better than usual. Advertising rates may have to increase a little if coverage is better to pay for distribution. It was also proposed that the pullout traders section be alternated between Lymm Life and Warrington Worldwide to give wider coverage and bring customers into Lymm from nearby areas. Phil to send emails to get feedback. Mark would have to continue collecting for the fighting fund, he mentioned that every trader should contribute to spread the cost as everyone benefits.
It was highlighted that yellow lines had not yet been implemented on Grove Rise to prevent parking abuse, this would be even more essential should the parking scheme be expanded.
• Spar
It appears that Spar are only giving lip service to the Traders and the Parish Council, their promise to contribute to the fighting fund and support the traders came to nothing, they only paid the going rate for their own advert in Lymm Life. The store has not improved, and shoppers are still being driven out of town or to local Co-ops.
The Spar situation has become almost farcical with customers leaving the store with their shopping in black bin bags for three or four days because they ran out of carrier bags. Gary invites any comments be directed to Lymm Life.
• Planning
It was asked if there was any feedback from the Parish Council regarding Roller Shutters and A Boards – June said they were awaiting feedback from the Borough Council on these issues. It was agreed we need openness, as A Boards have been sighted all over Stockton Heath, Latchford and Warrington town centre. Planning have said they are clamping down on this.
• Christmas 2009
There was a discussion on how to generate business during the run up to Christmas. As well as trying to encourage locals to use the village centre, it would be good to attract people from nearby areas by generating a magical atmosphere in the quaint village setting. One suggestion was a Santa’s grotto somewhere in the village centre. Gary has contacts with charities that could provide a grotto in return for donations, this would be good interaction with Warrington charities and Warrington in general, attracting people from outside Lymm now we can accommodate them with parking. The charity would also have a database notifying thousands of people. (there would need to be liaison with the Rotary club Santa to avoid 2 Santas in the village on Dickensian Day at the same time!) The grotto would be preferably operating on the weekends up to Christmas, certainly on Saturdays.
Maybe any retailers that could service Christmas shoppers could open for a few hours on the 3 Sundays up to Christmas.
Another idea was a treasure hunt among the retailers, rather like ‘Odd Man Out’ during Lymm festival that entices people to look in all the shop windows.
Gary also has contacts with local radio on the internet which could help promote events. Mood Design Solutions offered to help with general PR and adverts.
• AOB
Security – every business should have a surveillance camera outside to deter crime and help catch vandals.
Youth Club – this is now up for sale, but June would like to keep the building for Lymm people, and use it more like a community centre. WBC are claiming ownership, but historically it belongs to the people of Lymm and this needs to be proven. The more the building is used as an amenity, the greater the chance of preserving it, so organisations will be contacted to be made aware of it. The Traders offered to use it for the next meeting in the new year.
The meeting ended at 7.20pm
