South Lakes Development Trust

Retail businesses in Brampton, Longtown and Dalston are able to access specialised retail advice from SLDT’s Shop Doctor thanks to a new initiative funded by Carlisle City Council.

Over 40 shops will be able to access FREE advice and receive recommendations to help revitalise their businesses.

The initiative also includes opportunity to attend evening workshop activities and Welcome Host Customer Service training.

Click below to view flyer or contact 015394 40020 or reception@sldt.co.uk for more details

Carlisle business boost flyer

A session of retailer therapy aimed at independent market town and rural retailers featuring high profile female entrepreneur Rachel Elnaugh of Dragons Den fame and Bill Smith, our own Retail Specialist.

‘Let’s Talk Shop’ poster and booking details

Your chance to ‘have your say’ about the future provison of public toilets in South Lakeland.

See below the following information for thoughts on this subject from SLDT!

Talk Toilets public drop-in exhibitions will be taking place next week. They offer you the opportunity to view the exhibition materials, meet the team, ask any questions and complete a questionnaire. Exhibitions are taking place at:

·       Grange-over-Sands, St Paul’s Parish Hall, Monday 1^st March 2010, 3pm - 6.30pm
·       Ambleside, Ambleside Parish Centre, Tuesday 2^nd March 2010, 3pm - 6. 30pm
·       Ulverston, Supper Room, Coronation Hall, Wednesday 3^rd March 2010, 3pm - 7.30pm
·       Bowness, Rayrigg Rooms, Friday 5^th March 2010, 3pm - 7.30pm.

 If you can’t make an exhibition, all of the materials and the questionnaire are available online at www.southlakeland.gov.uk/talktoilets. For a paper copy call 0845 230 0139 (local rate).

South Lakeland District Council have made it clear that they cannot sustain the present level of toilet proviosn thorugh the Council.

South Lakes Development Trust believe that:

• it is essential that the existing level of provision not only be maintained, but enhanced.
• that good toilets are an essential part of the facility mix required to meet visitor expectation in an economy so orientated towards tourism.
• that reduced provision could be viewed as discriminatory against our ageing population, many who may feel uncomfortable venturing out of their homes if toilets not widely accessible.
• that SLDC are not sufficiently commercially orientated to operate toilets in a manner that will help to financially sustain their onward delivery and enhancement.
• that the Council could work in partnership with an organisation like SLDT (not for profit with charitable registration) to ensure that the existing level of provision can be maintained and enhanced.
• if private companies can operate public toilets in our towns so can social enterprise – social enterprise returns ‘profit’ back into the community – not to shareholders! 
• that a system of charging for use is essential, and that advertising and sponsorship revenue could be attracted to well maintained facilities.
• that the Council cannot expect to hold onto the higher profile toilets and sensibly seek alternative operators for the others – to sustain the existing level of provision a social enterprise would need to offset revenue received from higher volume toilets against the costs of maintaining less visited toilets.
• that, as a tourist area, we should be delivering and promoting the provision and accessibility of high quality toilets that meet visitor expectation.
• that enthusing commercial businesses by financial incentive to open their toilet doors to the public should be promoted to help extend, not replace, existing provision and that participating businesses should be assisted in recognising how the opportunity can deliver incremental business through footfall development.

Please let us know if you agree with our thoughts and, if you do, let the SLDC consultants know as well.

Cheshire East Council are organising two events for retailers in rural areas and towns in Cheshire. 

The first of these events on March 18th  is outlined below.

*         6.00-9.30pm
*         The event is fully subsidised by Cheshire East Council – there is no cost
*         Aimed at pubs, cafes, restaurants,  hairdressers and independent shops.
*         Rachel Elnaugh (ex of Dragon’s Den first series) will be the keynote speaker
*         Bill Smith from South Lakes Development Trust will host an
interactive workshop - “Well, I never knew you sold that!”  a one hour
‘audience participative’ presentation.

Finally there will be a Q&A session with the “Board You Can’t Afford” – made up of CEC representative, Bill Smith, Rachel Elnaugh and a local business operator.

Owning and running a small business can be a lonely and opertors don’t often get an opportunity to share & talk through ideas with industry specilaists.

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment -email eastsupportbackford@cheshireeast.gov.uk  or telephone 01270
686374/686377

This bespoke retail support programme funded by Carlisle City Council was officially launched yesterday (16th Februry) at Half Moon Wholefoods in Brampton.

‘Shop Doctor’ Bill Smith was on hand to undertake an initial diagnosis of issues affecting this specialist business, and to offer advice on ways that business performance could be improved.

The visit will be supported by a snapshot report highlighting first impressions which will be supplemented by an in depth observations and proposals report once key issues have been considered by the ‘Shop Doctor’

Over 40 independent retailers in Brampton, Longtown and Dalston will be able to benefit from the programme.

In a fabulous decision from South Lakeland District Council, would-be growers in Windermere will soon be getting the chance to rent a public allotment for the first time in many years.

A local group supported by Windermere Town Council and South Lakes Development Trust has been seeking suitable sites for over a year.  Yesterday they took their case to SLDC Cabinet, and got better backing than they could possibly have hoped for.

“Not only did SLDC agree to offer us land for allotments, it also agreed to look in more detail at the whole issue of local food production, and expressed their support for us all the way!” said allotments group secretary Paul Holdsworth.  “SLDC councillors and officers have helped us every inch of the way – without their active assistance this simply would not be happening.”

For more information contact Paul Holdsworth on 015394 40021, or allotments group chair Debbie Binch on 015394 88261.

Due to growing interest in the FREE evening workshops being delivered in Ulvertson and Kendal as part of the ‘Revitalising Retail  – South Lakeland’  programme the opportunity to attend has now been extended to include all retailers across South Lakeland.

The workshops are being held in:

Kendal on Thursday 25th February at 6.00pm, Assembly Room Kendal Town Hall

Ulverston on Thursday 18th February at 6.00pm, Supper Room, Coronation Hall

Retailers interested in attending should contact Elaine Tullett on 015394 40020 or reception@sldt.co.uk to book a place.

The initiative is funded by South Lakeland District Council, for more information click this link

Independent retailers in Kendal and Ulverston are being invited to participate in an opportunity to boost the effectiveness of their presence on the high street.

The initiative includes FREE individual shops reviews and there is also an opportunity to participate in a FREE  “I never knew you sold that” workshops which are being held in:

Kendal on Thursday 25th February at 6.00pm, Assembly Room Kendal Town Hall

Ulverston on Thursday 18th February at 6.00pm, Supper Room, Coronation Hall

For more information please contact Elaine Tullett on 015394 40020 0r reception@sldt.co.uk

The initiative is funded by South Lakeland District Council and compliments their Shop Front Grant Scheme in Kendal, see attached flyer for more details

SLDC are holding public meetings to consult with members of the public on the 2010/2011 ‘Budget Proposals and Beyond’.

The meetings are at The Assembly Rooms Kendal between 5.30 and 7.30 pm on February 8th and Coronation Hall, Ulvertson between 6.30 and 8.30 on February 9th.

Budget Proposals flyer  or visit www.southlakeland.gov.uk  for more details

In response to opportunities identified within the Windermere, Bowness and Troutbeck Bridge Community Plan a steering group has been formed to pursue the establishment of a Community Land Trust.

A growing source of information about CLT’s will be available on the Community Land Trust page of our website and we would welcome comment from members of the community who would like to find out more about how a land trust operates, or who would like to be involved in helping develop this exciting opportunity.