Use it or lose it.

DONT LET THIS HAPPEN TO THE TENBURY REGAL

A use it or lose it call, has gone out from the Tenbury Regal Cinema team.

Recent low attendance figures have brought about a turn in fortune for the volunteer run cinema. During the summer 7 sell out screenings of Mamma Mia helped to boost the funds, but recent very low audience numbers have eaten away at this surplus.

The Tenbury Regal Group have to pay enhanced fees to the film distributors when there is a large audience, but still have to pay a substantial distributor fee, and a hire fee to Tenbury Town Council even if no one turns up. Ironically they even have to pay a distributors courier fee when the Regal is unavailable for films due to other bookings.

A coffee morning is being held in the Regal Community Centre starting at 10am on Saturday 17th January 2009 with an auction of film posters at 11am. You are urged to come along a discuss the cinema and it's future.


Tenbury Regal Website

Christmas Window Competition

If you get a chance, take a stroll around the shops in Tenbury this Christmas.

Nearly every shop has been refitted within the last 18 months and new hi-tech lights decorate the street scene.

To add to the Christmas magic many of the shops have entered the Tenbury Chamber of Trade shop window competition. Some truly magical window displays have been created to put a smile on your face, to tease the mind and get you guessing which Christmas song they represent.

There also some unusual gift ideas and great bargains to be found in the shops.

MHDC offer help to ailing companies

Cllr Philip Grove, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development at Malvern Hills District Council has encouraged any companies in the Malvern Hills area facing financial problems to contact the Council, preferably before they need to call in the administrators.

He explained that whilst the Council does not have the funds to assist companies directly they can access a number of grants which may be enough to help companies continue trading.

New Multi Purpose Building

Its full speed ahead for the new multi purpose, health and well being building planned for the Palmers Meadow area of Tenbury.

The new building, which will incorporate new changing facilities for the football and rugby club has been given the green light and it is hoped that a design architect will be appointed soon, once suitable funding has been found.

The second multi purpose, art and culture building, proposed for the Regal site appears to have stalled.

Tenbury Play Equipment

Tenbury Town Council is still well on target to apply for up to £100K in grant aid to refurbish the children's play area and provide new facilities for older children and young people.

In conjunction with other organisations, various public consultation exercises have been carried out and others are planned.

In particular, children and young people have been encouraged to take an active part in the consultation process.

Tenbury Police

Tenbury Police have requested that the public call their new number 0300 333 3000 with any concerns about suspicious behaviour.

Although the crime rate around the Tenbury and Teme Valley area remains low, the current economic climate will inevitably lead to an increase in crime.

There have been reports of Fuel and Heating Oil thefts and thefts of scrap metal, although these have reduced with the reduction in fuel prices and halving in the value of scrap.

In recent weeks the street patrols have been tackling the problem of young people cycling on pavements and the usual problems of under age drinking.

The national drink drive campaign also starts today, and as the occurrence drink driving is still statistically high in the Teme Valley area they will be stepping up their patrols and random stops.

A national Power Company have donated a 'large' number of low energy light bulbs to Tenbury Police to distribute to vulnerable people to enable them to leave a light on for security reasons without running up a large bill. Anyone requiring a bulb or who know someone who would benefit from a bulb should contact the front desk.

Free Parking in Tenbury

Malvern Hills DC have announced that they will allow Free Parking in their Tenbury Wells Car Park on 12th, 13th, 19th and 20th December 2008.

MHDC have decided not to reduce Car Parking charged following the reduction in VAT, but to allow additional free parking.

They are also hoping to announce no increases in Car Parking charges during 2009.

It has been estimated that the Tenbury Wells Car Park is revenue neutral, and MHDC could allow free car parking in Tenbury with no overall loss of revenue, but they have refused to move from their policy of treating all their car parks the same. MHDC make significant profits from some of their car parks.

Tenbury Wells, is in competition with Leominster where parking is now free.

New Town Councillor

Following the resignation of former Mayor Councillor Bob Martin, Tenbury Town Council have co-opted the Rev Ian Williams to serve on the council.

Unusually the whole co-option process was carried out at a special meeting of the Town Council to which the press and public were excluded.

Tenbury Town Council regularly use the Section 100(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from official meetings, and where the act cannot be stretched to apply they hold informal meetings which they are also able to exclude the public and press.

(Only meetings where Councillors are "summoned to attend" are official meetings)

The Council have voted to adopt the Freedom of Information Act, model publication scheme, but rather than make all relevant documents available on their website, the will use the website to direct enquiries to the Town Clerk who will copy documents and make a charge.