Burton & District Burton & District Chamber Patrons


Contact: Chris Plant T: 0845 603 6650


Bridge repairs postponed at urging of the Chamber


Businesses need


to stay up-to-date Burton Chamber president Simon Chapman has warned businesses that they must not rest on their laurels in order to remain competitive. Mr Chapman, who is managing director


of Burton-based air conditioning contractor Yee Group Limited, said that firms had to ensure that they remained up-to-date and relevant to their markets. He said this included keeping abreast of


any changes which may affect those markets. To illustrate his thoughts, Mr Chapman used the example of Goodwood Road Racing Club (GRCC), which runs the famous Goodwood racing circuit near Chichester. He said that the circuit, which was once


the perimeter track of an RAF airfield, began holding races in 1948 and helped launch the careers of a string of racing legends, including Jim Clark, Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham and Jackie Stewart. The circuit fell out of use in the 1960s and


was dormant for many years until GRCC began using it to stage the Goodwood Revival event, which Mr Chapman said was again attracting large numbers of spectators and participating teams. He said: “The historic, now priceless cars


A bridge too far: Chris Else talking to ‘Midlands Today’ about the closure


Work on repairing a major bridge crossing in Burton has been postponed after a successful lobbying campaign by the Chamber. The reason the Chamber wanted the work on


Burton Bridge to be postponed, was because the town’s other main bridge, St Peter’s, has only just reopened after being closed since August, also for urgent repairs. This closure has caused major delays in Burton


town centre, and the impact on local traders has been disastrous.


‘The impact of the closure of St Peter’s Bridge was immediate and serious’


Burton Chamber director Chris Plant said that


the two bridges had both been found to be in need of urgent repairs. The plan was to close St Peter’s first, at the


end of August, and follow that by closing Burton Bridge. But, he added, closing St Peter’s had caused horrendous problems, with it taking 50 minutes for residents to get into town. As a result the town centre has been shunned,


and traders have been hit. The town’s main shopping centre, the Octagon, has lost 20 per cent of its footfall. Peter Hardingham, general manager of the shopping centre, said: “The impact of the closure of St Peter’s Bridge was immediate and serious. Footfall fell by 20 per cent overnight and users


of our car park were down by around the same. Some retailers quickly reported sales dropping by as much as 80 per cent and even now 10 weeks later some are still 50 per cent down”. “Some of them intimated that they may not


survive beyond the turn of the year if trade doesn’t pick up quickly when the work is complete. “We have found ourselves at the wrong end of


town – at the very tip of a ‘tree’ that feeds back traffic down its branches to the trunk of Burton Bridge.” Work on the Burton Bridge was due to start in


January, but this has now been put back until summer, to give traders the chance to recover. The campaign to persuade Staffordshire


County Council to re-think its plans was led by the Chamber, and Chris Plant said: “The Chamber is doing everything it can to help businesses affected by this, and we have lobbied the county council on their behalf. We are delighted that they have listened to our concerns.” Businesses affected by the bridge closure who


are struggling to survive and pay their business rates may be able to take advantage of a hardship relief scheme which the East Staffordshire Borough Council operates. More details can be found at www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/business-rates/relief However, Peter Hardingham added:


“Compensation has been very limited. Some of the small businesses have found themselves the most in need, but because they don’t pay business rates there is little to be done to help.”


that formed the centre piece of the original racing events remain the core of Goodwood. Around that GRRC has successfully added a closely connected, inter-related palette of entertainment and experiences. “The team behind Goodwood are


constantly reinventing and updating. Like all of us, their market and its customers doesn’t stand still. Following their example and looking back on what you have achieved makes great sense. “Our markets are constantly changing


and developing. It is of critical importance to be fully up-to-date and aware of what is taking place. Knowledge of all the major changes that are occurring in your sector is a powerful business tool.”


• Yee Group has appointed Rebecca Walker as an estimator at its Granary Wharf offices. Yee supplies air conditioning, electrical,


security and fire safety systems to local businesses. Rebecca, from Barton under Needwood,


has nine years’ experience in electrical contracting, and was one of only a handful of female electrical apprentices in Burton when she first launched her career. Yee Group MD Simon Chapman said:


“Rebecca brings special skills gained whilst learning on-the-tools; and that is the key asset that we value in this company.”


December 2017/January 2018 CHAMBERLINK 35


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