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SUCCESS STORY Thanks to council grant scheme Historic cabstand exposed Evidence of Victorian Cheltenham’s street-life has been uncovered by Gloucestershire Highways. Together with Cheltenham Borough Council, they are working together towards the preservation of this historic road surface. The discovery, a set of historic red granite cobble stones was made close to the Long Gardens taxi rank in the Promenade. It is thought that they were the wearing surface when the area was used by horse and carriages for hire. A team from Gloucestershire Highways, Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucestershire County Council made the find whilst undertaking preliminary works for road surface improvements. The existence of historic cobble stones was known because wear on the covering tarmac had exposed a number. But their extent was unclear and the engineers undertook the work to establish how many remained beneath the surface. Much to their surprise, an almost complete Victorian cab-standing area was uncovered. Karen Radford, heritage and conservation manager at Cheltenham Borough Council said: ‘’The discovery of this historic road surface is wonderful as the cobbles give variety and richness to the Promenade.’’
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ore than 44 new jobs have been created locally after 17 businesses received grants from Cheltenham Borough Council. Through the council’s Business Pride scheme, companies were able to apply for 50 percent off their first year’s rent during 2010 when the recession was gripping the economy. More than a year on, the businesses have their own success stories to tell. Sarah Daly, managing director of Heath Avery Architects Ltd benefited from a rental grant, she said: ‘’We heard about the Cheltenham Business Pride rental scheme and were extremely grateful for the support this gave us in terms of managing some of the costs of moving and giving our business the potential to expand. We moved to Maxet House on Lansdown Industrial Estate – a real unexpected gem of a building which suits our requirements perfectly. The Business Pride scheme was simple to access and entirely supportive to our needs as a local business.’’ To qualify for funding, businesses had to demonstrate good employment growth prospects and employ no more than one hundred people. They were also asked to meet the following criteria: · Be a start-up business or within the first 3 years of trading in Cheltenham or; · Be moving into Cheltenham for the first time or; · Be moving from one premises in Cheltenham to another larger site Grants were offered to support the
creation of new jobs or retention of existing jobs. Applicants were required to have a review through Business Link South West, designed to make sure that their business plan has good long-term prospects. Chris Dagnall, director of Revolve Studios Ltd on Regent Street also received help with the first year’s payment of rent, he said: ‘’I’m extremely grateful for the help and support that the council has offered Revolve Studios during the past twelve months. Since opening in August 2009, my business has broken even in the first year of trading and created twenty new jobs for local people. We have now opened our second store in Cardiff and used extra Cheltenham staff to help support the business during the first few months. Without the grant, we would not have been able to achieve our goal of opening our business and would have struggled to keep our heads above water.’’ Council leader Steve Jordan said: ‘’Through the scheme we have been able to encourage many new business start-ups and the development of early stage businesses. While the grants themselves were quite small, targeted in the right way at the right time they made quite a difference. This has helped create a number of new jobs and the scheme was one of the ways we encouraged economic growth through the recession.’’
Helping tenants to get 'switched on' to digital ake sure you're ready for the digital switchover" - that's the message from Cheltenham Borough Homes (CBH) who is urging all its tenants to prepare themselves for when the analogue TV signal is switched off in April 2011.
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To help residents prepare for the switchover CBH has created a leaflet which sets out what residents need to know, and what they need to do to make sure that they are ready. The switchover will take place in two stages. On 6 April viewers will lose BBC 2. Two weeks later on 20 April the Ridge Hill transmitter will be turned off and every viewer in the county will lose the signal for BBC 1, ITV, Channel Four and Five. Chris Williams, Head of Property Services at CBH said: "We've completed digital upgrades on our communal properties but for those residents living in maisonettes and houses the responsibility lies with them to make sure they
are ready. We don't want people to leave it to the last minute and risk losing their TV signal. We hope that the guide we have produced will cover all they need to know." Older and disabled tenants can get extra help to switch their TV to digital. Run by the BBC, the Switchover Help Scheme offers to install all the equipment needed and provide clear and simple advice, along with a 12 month aftercare service. To be eligible for the scheme you must: • be aged 75 or over • get or could get Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement • have lived in a care home for six months or more • are registered blind or partially sighted The leaflet 'Get set for digital' is available at CBH area offices in Oakley, Whaddon, at Coronation Square and online at www.cheltborohomes.org. For more information on the Switchover Help Scheme call 0800 40 85 900 or visit www.helpscheme.co.uk
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