MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
COLNE TOWN CENTRE FORUM
HELD AT COLNE TOWN HALL, COLNE
ON 11th NOVEMBER, 2014
PRESENT –
Graham Wharton (Chairman – in the Chair)
Janet Whincup
Sarah Cockburn-Price
Sandra Fernandeze
Frank Murray
Mark Bateman
Jim Walker
Linda Roberts
John Luttrum
Zoe Dickinson
Aneesa Neelam
Ashley Sutcliffe
Anne Barker
Rebecca Barker
Colne Town Council
Pendle Borough Council/Colne Town Council
Pendle Belles
Pendle Belles
The Bookshop
Jim’s Café
Pendle Sandwich Bar
Outline Print
Let’s Make Something Beautiful
Colne Quid
Live Like the Boy
Funky Gifts
Funky Gifts
Also in attendance:
Kath Haydock
Gill Dickson
Paul Collins
Jane Watson
Scrutiny Manager, Pendle Borough Council
Localities and Policy Officer, Pendle Borough Council
Regeneration Officer, Pendle Borough Council
Senior Committee Administrator, Pendle Borough Council
(Apologies for absence were received from Lara Oddie).
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1.
DEMENTIA FRIENDS
Kath Haydock, Scrutiny Manager from Pendle Council and Gill Dickson, Localities and Policy
Officer from Pendle Council lead an interactive information session for traders on dementia.
Dementia Friends was an initiative set up by the Alzheimer’s Society aimed at giving people the
opportunity to understand a bit more about dementia and the small things that could be done to
help people with this condition. The Alzheimer’s Society’s target was to make communities more
dementia friendly and for one million Dementia Friends to be registered by 2015.
Traders were encouraged to participate in the session and to consider becoming a Dementia
Friend by registering on the Dementia Friends website: https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/
2.
MINUTES
AGREED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 30th September, 2014 be approved as a correct record
and signed by the Chairman.
Colne Town Centre Forum (11.11.2014)
3.
MATTERS ARISING
Paul Collins said he was still trying to confirm a date for the meeting about the Business
Improvement District (BID) for Colne which was discussed at the last meeting. He was waiting to
hear back from Mary Arber, Skipton BID. The intention was that the meeting would be held in
Colne to try to encourage as many traders as possible to attend.
It was reported that the Loyalty Card scheme was to be rebranded and it was to be ‘re-launched’
in the local press over the coming weeks. There were currently 31 members in the scheme and it
was suggested that this be increased to 50 if possible. The first big draw would take place after
Christmas.
4.
COLNE QUID
Aneesa Neelam asked traders if they would be interested in participating in the ‘Colne Quid’
initiative. She said that John Luttrun (Outline Print) and Zoe Dickinson (Let’s Make Something
Beautiful) had helped her bring the initiative together. The three of them had set the scheme up
as a Community Interest Company and papers had been sent to Company’s House to be
registered.
There were currently 15 traders who had expressed an interest in taking part in the scheme.
Flyers had been produced which detailed the benefits the scheme would have for both businesses
and customers.
Initially, as an incentive, the Quids would be offered at 90p each instead of £1. Some funding had
been secured to offset this. The idea was to keep the Quids in circulation in the town centre and
they could be used alongside sterling.
A lot of research had been carried out by the three people involved and reference was made to
schemes currently operating in Bristol and Totnes.
Overall there was a mixed response to the scheme from traders, but they also felt it was a good
idea. They did however; think that the public’s perception of the scheme was an area of concern.
5.
FOOD FESTIVAL
Ashley Sutcliffe gave an update on progress with the Food Festival scheduled for 29 th November,
2014. He gave a precise of what people could expect to find and said there would be more stalls
and attractions than last year. As well as food stalls in Colne Municipal Hall there would be street
vendors and specialist displays at various places in the town centre. This included, amongst other
things, food demonstrations and tastings. The event ran all day up to 7.00 p.m. and traders were
encouraged to keep their shops open to benefit from the number of people this event would attract
to the town.
6.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON EVENT
Councillor Cockburn-Price said the Christmas Lights Switch On was taking place on the same day
as the Food Festival – 29th November, 2014. Lots of attractions had been booked which included
donkey rides, fairground rides, face painting, clog dancers as well as a number of singers/bands.
A torch light procession was planned which would be led by Farther Christmas culminating in the
switch on of the lights and a firework display.
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Colne Town Centre Forum (11.11.2014)
It was suggested that signs advertising both the switch on event and the food festival be placed
across the Borough to attract as many people as possible to both events. Traders were reminded
to complete their Christmas themed window displays to coincide with the switch on event.
Councillor Cockburn-Price said that Colne Town Council had now taken over responsibility for the
festive decorations from Pendle Council. She said that members of the Town Council would be
looking at the displays with a ‘critical eye’ this year to see what was needed to improve on them in
the future.
7.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The Chairman asked if the faded union jacks strung up in various places in the town centre could
be removed. Janet Whincup said the Town Council had identified this and would be taking the
flags down shortly.
The Chairman also referred to the empty properties in the Precinct which still displayed out of
date promotional material and banners. It was agreed that this issue be referred to PEARL to
address as they were now the owners of the properties.
Concerns were also raised that the empty Blockbuster unit in the Precinct looked unsightly and
it was suggested that the windows be dressed with vinyls/posters to help improve the appearance
of this empty unit in a prominent location. Paul Collins said that enquiries had been made to try to
find the owners of this unit but this had proved inconclusive. Officers were still trying to identify the
owner and it was reported that Colne and District Committee had asked for an item on their next
agenda to discuss this matter further.
Ashley Sutcliffe questioned why there were advertisements on lamp posts on Albert Road
advertising the ACE Centre which was based in Nelson and not Colne? It was explained that
Pendle Leisure Trust may have been involved in this as this was a facility they managed. Paul
Collins said he would contact the County Council to see how much it would cost to advertise in this
way and report back to the Forum.
It was reported that a Christmas Get-Together for Colne Traders was to take place on 22nd
December at Carlos. Anyone interested in going should contact Annabel at the Health Shop.
8.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
AGREED
That the next meeting of the Colne Town Centre Forum be held at 5.30 p.m. on Tuesday 13 th
January, 2015 in the Council Chamber at Colne Town Hall.
Chairman ________________________________________
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