Traders pledge cash for town`s Shopmobility scheme
Abergavenny Chronicle - 13 Feb 2003
LIZ DAVIES REPORTS
TRADERS in Abergavenny have responded to an appeal by Bryn y Cwm area manager Dale Roberts, by pledging £1,000 to support the town`s proposed
Shopmobility scheme.
As revealed in the Abergavenny Chronicle, the future of the scheme hung in the balance with around £2,000 in additional financial support
required to ensure it went ahead.
After hearing of the funding difficulties, president of Abergavenny Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Ian Shackleton, personally visited local
traders and asked if they would be prepared to make a donation towards the project.
"In just a few hours I had secured pledges of £100 each from nine local traders, with others interested in contributing,"
said Mr Shackleton.
"What I did was little more than a brief canvass of local businesses and in that time I only had one negative response, which was
very encouraging and shows that there is a will among traders to support the scheme," he said.
"Traders have also made offers of prizes for a raffle, which could be run over several months adn would provide traders with other ways
of supporting the scheme."
Among businesses which have already offered finacial support to the Shopmobility Scheme are: Caboodles, Homes of Elegance, Nicholls, Luigi`s,
Boots the Chemist, Richards, F R Ball, Classic Phones and Shackleton`s Chemist.
"The shame is that the Chamber of Trade had some money available which had been raised throughout the year to be distributed among
local good causes, but this was already allocated before we knew that money was needed for the Shopmobility scheme," said Mr Shackleton.
"I`m still a little uncertain how much money is needed however and whether it is a one-off contribution or something that will be
called for every year," he added.
The fund raising success has been praised by area manager Dale Roberts, who said that he welcomed the news that traders were prepared
to make financial commitment to the scheme.
"I also appreciate the work that Mr Shackleton, yet again, has done in galvanising this response," said Mr Roberts.
"Of course there remains a shortfall and I would urge local businesses to contact me now if they feel they are able to make a
contribution," he added.
"I will shortly arange to meet with the traders to discuss the details of the scheme, which we hope to have in place in time for the summer."
A one year trial costing around £40,000 to assess the `viability and usage` of the scheme was given the go-ahead by the January neeting
of the Monmoutshire County Councils cabinet and has been warmly welcomed by local disabled groups.
Once established the scheme will provide a choice of scooters and wheelchairs which will be available for residents and visitors to the town.
Although broadly welcomed by local councillors, some have expressed concerns at the cost of the scheme, which will be in the region of £20,000
a year - £9000 of which has this year, been earmarked from a Bryn y cwm area budget of £15,000.
"Although I think the scheme is a must, I have some concern over the earmarking of so much from the area community budget," said the
committees councillor André Arkell.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Mr Roberts however, assured members that he was confident that the scheme would be well supported by the
local retail sector.
Aream manager Dale Roberts and Pauline Price of Monmouthshire disability group CAIR discussing
the merits of the town`s Shopmobility scheme.
Related articles:
* Traders’ cash sought for Shopmobility scheme
