Burton & District Burton & District Chamber Patrons


Contact: Chris Plant T: 0845 6036650


High Street regeneration is planned for New Year


A £750,000 regeneration scheme in Burton’s High Street will begin in the New Year. The funding is being provided by the


Government’s ‘Stronger Towns’ programme and is additional to the £25m already agreed. Work will include resurfacing of the road


between Worthington Way and New Street and installing new footway paving between Station Street and Market Place using the same materials as the recently completed Station Street improvements. For work to be carried out safely High Street


will be closed through the scheme period until the end of May, though pedestrian access will be maintained for businesses. In addition, a separate scheme will take place in coordination to create a bus gate on High Street. The High Street scheme follows the successful


completion of the Station Street regeneration works. Staffordshire County Councils’ cabinet member


for highways and transport David Williams said: “We look forward to continuing our regenerative work with East Staffordshire Borough Council which has seen Station Street improved before we turn to High Street. Revitalising our town centres is more important now than ever. We look forward continuing to contribute to maintaining Burton town centre’s vibrancy into 2021.”


Lyndsey follows in her father’s footsteps


By Jessica Brookes


Lyndsey Watson has taken over not just her father’s car servicing business, but also his place on Burton and District Chamber of Commerce’s council. Lyndsey joined Crescent Motors in 2008, six


years after her dad, Steve Tallett, started up the firm. Based in Wetmore Road, the business offers MOT, vehicle servicing and repairs. Progressing to director after initially joining


Crescent, Lyndsey, and her husband Stuart Watson, took over the business in 2019 after Steve announced that he would be retiring, and stepping away from the business.


‘Change is something that scares quite a lot of customers’


However, Lyndsey and Stuart have said that


since the business has been such a success, they've chosen to run it largely the same as Steve did since its inception.


A socially distant sleepout


Burton businesses have been supporting efforts by the town’s YMCA to stage its annual ‘sleep- out’ event, which highlights the plight of the homeless. The ‘sleep-out’ normally takes place at Burton


Albion’s Pirelli stadium, with participants spending the night in a cardboard box. Due to the coronavirus crisis, this year’s event


had to be staged in a rather different manner, with those taking part asked to sleep out anywhere other than in their own beds. That inspired the staff of Burton business


Hardy Signs to do their bit – boss Nik Hardy opted for a tent in his back garden, and colleague Dan Nikolla opted for a sleeping bag on the floor of his front room.


Sleep-out: Dan Nikolla and Nik Hardy doing their bit for the YMCA sleep-out event – with some valuable support from man’s best friend


Other Hardy staff contributed to the


fundraising event, and have so far raised almost £2,000. Others backing this year’s event included


Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson (who is president of YMCA Burton), and former vice Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire Graham Stow and his neighbour, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, who had a 38- year career in the Royal Navy, including command of the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible. Mr Stow said: “We wanted to make a


difference by taking part in Sleepout 20 so that others that do not have the choice can be helped by the YMCA. Sir Trevor said: “I have engaged with YMCA


Burton before and I know the tremendous work they do in supporting those less fortunate. With winter approaching combined with the current pandemic we wanted to do something meaningful to help change lives locally.” YMCA fundraising officer Paula Senior said:


“We are delighted that Sir Trevor Soar and Graham Stow have chosen to support Sleepout this year and help us to raise awareness and much needed funds. It has been a challenging year and our income generation has been significantly affected.” YMCA has not yet released details of the final


amount raised by the event, which took place last month.


Swan-of-a-kind: the Cygneture Brew sculpture, which helped raise £11,000 for YMCA Burton


Swan-derful auction raises funds for YMCA


Burton town centre’s swan sculptures have raised more than £11,000 to help local people in crisis this winter. The unmissable sculptures have


dominated the town’s landscape for nearly three months, and have now been auctioned off to raise money for YMCA Burton’s work with vulnerable and disadvantaged people. Paul Laffey, chief executive of YMCA


Burton, said: “The swans project has been the most wonderful arts trail for Burton. It has left an indelible, positive mark on the town in the year of this awful pandemic.” Each swan was individually named and


sponsored by local businesses. The businesses chose designs for their swan from a wide range submitted by artists. The highest price paid for an individual


sculpture at the auction was £850, which was achieved for Burton’s Cygneture Brew, designed and painted by Derbyshire artist Victoria Wilcox.


December 2020/January 2021 CHAMBERLINK 47 Lyndsey said: "A lot hasn't changed at all


since we've taken over. We’ve made some little tweaks along the way, but ultimately customers don't like a lot of change either. Change is something that scares quite a lot of customers, and we were very conscious of that when we did take over.” Crescent Motors has a large customer base


throughout Burton, including big commercial and retail customers. Since lockdown, the firm has picked up new customers and Lyndsey describes the business as being ‘one of the lucky ones’ through the pandemic. Amidst taking over the business and


steering it through a pandemic, Lyndsey also joined Burton Chamber as a new executive committee member during its annual meeting, directly taking over from Steve. She, and other committee members, will


help steer the Chamber’s activity and help businesses facing challenging times during the health crisis.


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