Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is the voice of the local business community. We’re here to represent the views of our member businesses, on a range of topics. We give our members the chance to come together and meet political leaders and key decision-makers. Last Friday, we invited the MP for Stafford (Theo Clarke, MP), to meet a group of member businesses at our office in the heart of Stafford, at Shire Hall Business Centre.
We know that Staffordshire is a great place to do business and this is epitomised by Stafford, which enjoys exceptional transport connectivity (particularly by rail) and a highly skilled workforce. The local population is growing and there is a need to strike the right balance in building new homes but also making sure that there is a sufficient supply of employment land across the area.
You’ve probably noticed the expansion of both residential and commercial developments across the area. A good example of this is the new housing development at Marston Gate on the A34, north edge of Stafford, sitting over the way from the new Pets at Home distribution centre.
Ms Clarke’s constituency centres on the urban area of Stafford but spans a wide area, from parts of Shropshire in the west, across to Great Haywood and Hixon in the east. The businesses who joined us at last week’s meeting came from different parts of the constituency.
Our Stafford Chamber Local Area Advisory Board (LAAB) is a representative group of member businesses from across Stafford Borough and in recent months, the LAAB has developed a list of key priorities for Stafford. These included a call for a focus on developing the centre of Stafford.
Boarded up commercial premises can become such an eyesore in any town and we support action or legislation, to ensure property owners cannot simply board up premises. Bringing health service provision into the centre of town would boost footfall for retailers and hospitality businesses.
Thriving town centres need easy access in and out and this aspiration is supported by improved public transport and secure cycle storage. A mix of commercial premises will bring employees into town and they’ll also spend their money at local retailers and hospitality venues.
Stafford Station Gateway and the Institute of Technology (IoT) are exciting developments which will help to grow our County Town but we’re keen to play our part in pushing for town centre improvements. Work to transform Market Square is taking shape and once completed in the autumn, it should create a space for a real mix of vibrant events.
Other topics discussed, included electric vehicle charging and the transfer of surplus energy generated by a business, with infrastructure not in place to allow this to be transferred to the Grid.
Ms Clarke listened carefully and spoke with all present, before opening up a wider discussion and agreed to take away some of the key points that were raised. We’ll look forward to getting an update.
Ms Clarke was joined by Nigel Huddleston, – Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade. Some of our members have experienced frustrations with exporting to the EU and we took the chance to raise these with the Minister. He agreed to personally look into what has happened and will also get back to us with an update.
If you would like to learn more about the key business priorities for Stafford, please contact me:declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
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