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Wycombe and South Bucks Chamber of Commerce –
Vision Document 06/07
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AIM
The Wycombe and South Bucks Chamber of Commerce aims to:-
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Be recognised as the authoritative voice of business in Wycombe and South Bucks which will be enhanced by the ability to represent the majority of businesses
- Identify key issues of concern to businesses, lead debate and lobby for change in accordance with this Strategy document
- Effectively address business interests and constraints with a view to promoting business development, growth, sustainabil
ity and profitability together with improving work/life balance
ISSUES OF CONCERN
- Transport - An inadequate public transport system that is creating increasing congestion on the roads and putting pressure on car parking.
- Crime - Inadequate numbers and visibility of police leading to increased crime and fear of crime
- Town Centre Development including parking - Difficulties of shopping centres in towns making the challenge of increasing competition from other towns in the Thames Valley and from out of town and on line trading.
- Business Development - Increasing costs, reducing economic activity, high cost of living in the area and planning limitations all present challenges to business
PRIORITIES FOR ACTION
- Transport
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To lobby for an improved public transport system as a viable alternative to journeys by car and to ease congestion on the road.
- To continue to lobby for road improvements and in particular for the improvement of the Handy Cross M40 Interchange to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow
- Opposition to congestion charging, taxation of work place parking and road tolling and similar measures whilst there is no real extension and improvement in public transport
- Crime
- To work with the police to increase police numbers by improving recruitment and retention
- To promote the increased installation of CCTV and better lighting to reduce the incidence of crime
- To lobby for the recruitment of a crime reduction officer for businesses
- To promote the designing in of crime prevention initiatives
- Town Centre Development
- To put pressure on Wycombe District Council to regenerate the town centre including increasing both the capacity and quality of car parking as customers have clearly demonstrated a preference for shopping by car
- To encourage the various tiers of Local Authority to work together in ensuring adequate and appropriate parking provisions in all of the towns within the area to meet the competing needs of local businesses, shoppers and commuters and if necessary to introduce Park and Ride Schemes.
- To improve the balance and range of retail outlets to enhance the attractiveness of shopping centres
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Business Development
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To encourage economic activity by promoting the highest standards and aiming for excellence
- To lobby Government to reduce costly red tape, stop National Insurance being used as an alternative to direct taxation and to oppose new schemes put forward by the Government which add to the paperwork and costs of business and require businesses to act as tax collectors.
- To oppose the change in allocation of Central Government funding to Local Authorities moving resources from the south to the North with the resulting increases in Council Tax locally putting increasing pressure on wages and salaries.
- To lobby Local Authorities to include in local and structure plans policies discouraging the loss of existing commercial use sites to residential development where it is appropriate for business use to continue in order to ensure adequate space for existing companies to expand and new companies to develop within the area.
- To engage actively all parties concerned with work based skills to promote an acceptable programme of improvements in the standard and availability of suitably qualified people in order to enhance growth sustainability and profitability of local businesses.
SHORT TERM TARGETS
- Transport - To lobby South Bucks District Council and Bucks
County Council to improve parking facilities in Beaconsfield and
Gerrards Cross
- Crime - To work with the local police to increase the number
of officers on the front line and improve response time to emergency
calls.
- Town Centre Development - To lobby Wycombe District Council
to make speedy progress with the regeneration of High Wycombe
Town Centre with a suitable scheme including increased car parking
provision
- Business Development - To work closely with the Ethnic Chamber
to identify specific business skills and training needs and areas
for partnership working.
OWNERSHIP
This document is produced by the Council of the Wycombe and South
Bucks Chamber of Commerce. The President Dave Granshaw, who chairs
the Chamber Council leads the local activities and is supported by
his two Vice Presidents Clare Marriot and Ian Johnson and the following
groups:-
- Transport and Planning - Chairman Ian Johnson
- Events Group - Chairman Clare Marriot
The Chamber Council meets regularly. The Vision document is reviewed
at each Meeting and progress on the agreed actions are reported and
minuted. Quarterly breakfast bulletins are also planned to update
members on local business issues.
Any business person interested in supporting the work of the Chamber
Council or any of the focus groups or who wishes to express a view
please contact the local Chamber Office by email at
wycombe@thamesvalleychamber.co.uk
The Chamber can also be contacted at YMCA Foyer, Crest Road, High
Wycombe, Bucks. Telephone 01494 448526, Fax 01494 448765
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