Barriers to Business in Tonbridge. Part Two....

I said in the last posting that I wouldn't get started on the subject of business rates which is code in the blogging world for: That subject will probably be appearing on this blog very soon! So here goes. Probably the most often sighted reason for businesses failing is that of crippling business rates. I said in the last article that I'd speak from recent personal experience having moved my bookshop very recently to its new location. Let me tell you that experience has been a very steep learning curve for me indeed. When I was weighing up whether or not to take the plunge in moving from just off the High Street (Bank St.) to the more prominent position I'm in now, after rent, the most important consideration is that of business rates. In Bank Street I was enjoying 50% small business rate relief (SBR as the council calls it) and this rose to 100% relief due to a temporary government scheme which I still haven't fathomed although, obviously, I wasn't complaining.  I understand that this scheme finishes in 2013. When I enquired with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC as the council likes to call itself) a person, who I could name but that would be cruel, told me very adamantly that, in my new location, I would still get the 100% SBR that I been getting before. That is to say that I would pay a big fat zero business rates. I thought this was too good to be true so asked him to check it over not once but twice which he said he'd done. I'm not saying that I wouldn't have gone ahead anyway with the shop move but clearly it was a crucial part of my thinking when doing my business plans. So imagine my horror when, about a month in my new premises, I receive a Non Domestic Rates (Business rates to you and I) bill for nearly £2,500 for the year! "Bit of a difference between zero and £2,500" is what I screeched down the phone at another assistant in the council's rates department. She was pretty matter of fact about the whole thing, which only served to rile me even more, and just passed it off as a mistake by one of her colleagues who, in any case had now left the organisation. (Turns out even that wasn't quite correct.) All she was interested in was getting my bank details so that she could process my bill and get another moaning idiot off the phone (or at least that's how it felt.) I enquired later as to whether I could take this provision of mis-information up with anyone more senior to which she replied that there was no one around until the following week and, in any case, it wouldn't make any difference. She was probably right on that score but, not being one to be put off, I got the names and email addresses of al the senior people in that department and wrote to them to vent my spleen. Oh yes and I copied in the Chief Executive of TMBC also (that usually makes the pen pushers sit up and take notice!) In my later exchanges with another seniorish person, who seems to have been allocated this annoying idiot (me) I got other things off my chest like why do charity shops get 80% SBR when retailers like myself only get about 30%? Don't they want to encourage community shops as well? Surely, I told them,  TMBC must have some influence over the government directed policy of business rates and some disgression as regards the level of rate relief given. In the USA and other countries business rates, so I understand, are linked to the turnover of a business so that, as a business grows, the business rates would increase, therefore helping a business past the early stages and not, effectively, discouraging them from even giving it a go. This system to me seems like an infintely more acceptable method of charging for business rates instead of just a blanket charge for all. Unless of course Mary Portas is right. That councils are quite happy to let the High Street become waste lands, gettos of derelict buildings, boarded up shops and row upon row of charity shops each rubbing their hands after receiving their 80% rate relief....

Barriers to business in Tonbridge. Part One....

Anyway, enough of all that nicey nicey arts festival stuff and time for a good old moan. Today Tonbridge Blog asks: Am I living proof of what Mary, Queen of Shops, Portas has been banging on about? Remember she was the one who the Government took on to compile a report into British High Streets and concluded that there were far to many barriers to successfully launching and succeeding in setting up shops. In particular she sighted the demise of the traditional independent shops and the incessant rise of the charity shops. So how much is our dear own old council helping to encourage small businesses and retailers onto our increasingly desparate looking High Street? Having recently moved Mr. Books Bookshop from Bank Street to the High Street I feel quite well placed to examine some first hand evidence based on my own very recent experience. Now, on the whole, I'm a calm natured sort of bloke but it really does start to rile me when you find that you have to chase up the planning department of Tonbridge and Malling Council who, let's not forget, are supposed to be serving us and not the other way around, for listed building consent just to have your shop name painted over the shop window where it's supposed to go. Eight weeks they told me, which is poor to say the least in the current economic climate. Eight weeks it has know been and not a dickie bird out of them. There's no wonder the vast majority of businesses in the north end of the High Street simply ignore the need for such consent and just go ahead anyway. Eight weeks or more is totally unacceptable and goes against their claim to be pro-small independent retailers. It's just not on. Why can they not just send someone along to discuss your plans and give you the go ahead there and then if the application is a simple one? It beggars belief that you have to fill out ridiculously complicated forms, of which of course they want 3 copies of each, and becomes just another of the many hurdles to jump over when setting up a business. I'm sure that it's not the case but, it feels as though, the borough council are actively trying to put you off doing anything enterprising. And don't even get me started on Business rates....

Working the Door for The Three Degrees....

And speaking of the performance by The Three Degrees last Sunday evening at K College myself and another big fella (Alan) from the organising committee offered to be on the door for the evening. Actually I believe the phrase is "working the door." A little known fact about Tonbridge Blog is that I did used to be a doorman, okay let's call it what everyone used to call it, a bouncer. Back in my student days, in order to earn a bit of cash me and my mate Steve used to be "Security Men" on the door of Loughborough Student Union building. Because there was always a little tension between the students and the young people from the town (Townies as we used to call them) quite often, charged up by alot of lager, things would kick off, mostly the trouble was nipped in the bud but, just occasionally, there'd be a mass brawl which could be quite scarey and a little exciting too. So you see for me the Three Degrees concert was not only a very enjoyable performance but also like going back thirty years. In those days I took the job pretty seriously; you had to have your wits about you if there was trouble. So, last Sunday, although the body has slowed down a little, the old instincts I found were still very much intact! I found myself eyeing people up to size up whether they were likely to cause trouble. I looked people over, especially the blokes, to see whether they were likely to be packing, you know, tooled up. I greeted the band members at the door in a doorman-like fashion, directing sponsors, artists and public with a calm, confident and assured smile. Friendly yet no nonsense. Ready to respond if necessary. I was tempted to say to people "Sorry mate no trainers or jeans" but then I realised that they are now allowed these days, encouraged even. If I'm honest I don't know which I enjoyed more. The performances or being back working the door!...

The Three Degrees and Me!...

The Three Degrees, me and some of the Tonbridge arts Fest committee at K College theatre

Well come on it's not every day you get to meet some living legends! The Three Degrees were superb at the the K College Theatre last Sunday Evening as the finale of the Tonbridge Arts Festival. You still got it girls. Way to go!! Sorry I came over all American there for a second....

Tonbridge Arts Overdose!...



The unusually named but brilliant Sorrel Nation on vocals

 




A touch of glass!



Last week was, well and truely, a massive overdose of the arts in Tonbridge. I was closely involved in the whole festival; in my capacity of committee member I was involved in the planning of it over the last, well, year really. In my capacity as loud mouth I was involved in some of the events themselves such as the poetry evening and the literary day on the castle lawn. In my capacity of lover of the arts I went to see paintings, photography, drama, musical performances, pottery and craft demonstrations and much more. Like I said, I overdosed on the arts for a whole week and it was marvelous. Right up to the finale which was the Three Degrees playing K College. Yes that's right, you didn't miss hear me I said The Three Degrees, the actual ones, and not a tribute band, who were doing a rare UK performance at our very own K College theatre. Incredible I know! If you missed all this arts extravaganza I do feel slightly sorry for you, especially since much of it was free or at least cheap. Was it well enough publicized? Difficult one really. I thought it was, the rest of the committee thought it was. Were we all too close to it to really know the answer to that? Probably. Why have I started to ask myself questions and then give the answers? I can't say! But, having said all that, I'm sure we could have done more to promote the festival, it's just knowing where to stop and deciding what's reasonable. Certainly many people have said to me that they didn't know very much about it until it was upon them. That bit we have got to get right for next year's....



That old fashioned printing's hard work!



Great demo of wood turning at The Vision on Sunday at the castle

Poetry at the Rose & Crown last night....



Guest poet, Sarah Salway, in action



Lovely poem called memories

The Tonbridge Arts Festival is alive and kicking. Anyone who's ventured into the town centre over the last few days couldn't have failed to notice at least something. The Big Picture depicting an Olympic scene against the Castle Wall, the bunting and paintings along the riverside railings. Last night's Poetry night at the Rose & Crown proved at least one thing: that poetry, as an art form, is well and truely in fine fettle in Tonbridge. The organisers (and I was one of em) really didn't have much of a clue up to a day before as to whether there'd be ten people turning up or a hundred. The lack of football on the TV probably helped for, as it turned out, there was a sell out audience of around 70 people; all lovers of poetry in one way or another. The range of ages was encouraging, we even had a nine year old girl read out her winning poem from the under 16 competition, as were the varied styles of poetry. There wasn't quite any Scroobious Pip or any hip hop but the range was still pretty broad. The prizes for the poetry competition, which had been organise a few months ahead of the festival were awarded. Congrats to the winners and also everyone else who took part. If you missed out on this competition then keep an eye out for the next one as the prizes were hard cash of £500! Worth putting pen to paper for I'd say especially as it was free to enter. A fabulous evening and a real breath of fresh air. I can feel a regular Poetry at the R&C Night coming on. Watch this space! I'll leave you with the line I used in my introduction to the evening, which I actually paraphrased from the singer, Sting, who once, when accepting some prestigious music award, said that there was no need for any awards at all as: "Music is its own reward" So I'd like to say this to anyone who writes or appreciates poetry: Poetry is its own reward....



Guest poet Susan Wicks reads her powerful poetry



Flash Choir amongst the shopping trollies....

....and speaking of the arts festival in Tonbridge over the next ten days, customers in Waitrose the other day were given just a small taste of the many delights in store. If you are in any doubt of the power of the arts, in this case the "flash choir," to surprise, entertain and to catch you unawares and to take your breath away. Then watch this YouTube clip of them in action.... 

The BIG Picture....

The Tonbridge Arts Festival is under way wth a big bang, well, more accurately, with a Big Picture. Cycling in to work this morning, as I often do on a Saturday, I just couldn't miss the huge painting of Olympic runners the whole height of the Castle wall. On closer inspection you'll see that it is made up of small individual squares, each one painted by a school kid or member of an art group. It's a real community effort and completely encapsulates what the spirit of the festival is all about. It catches you unawares and takes your breath away even if just fleetingly.

Further along by the river there's Art on the Railings which brings a distinct flavour of Rive Gauche right to the heart of Tonbridge. The various artists will be exhibiting (and selling) their art over the weekend. If you don't really have time for such trivialities then really you are in too much of a rush and should slow down the pace a little. Spend ten minutes down by the river at some point over the weekend and I guarantee it'll make you feel better about life and more relaxed....

The Eve of the Arts Festival....

Tonbridge Arts Festival starts tomorrow. You may have seen the Big Picture being erected against the Castle wall by the river as the first clue that something special is about to happen. For me this has been a long time coming. Over a year in fact since the first meeting I attended about the 2012 event. And here we are on the eve of what is sure to be a fabulous ten days of arts overdose. Pick up a programme from various places including Mr. Books (naturally) the Angel Centre and libraries. There are loads of free events and quite a few cheapo ones like the poetry evening at the Rose and Crown hotel and The Word on the Castle lawn, as well as some spectacular events such as the actual Three Degrees performing at K College. Look at the festival web site and get yourselves out and about. It will be a right royal celebration of the arts in your own town....

Tonbridge Carnival Highlights....

I haven't looked at this film on YouTube yet but someone took the trouble to film the whole of the Tonbridge Carnival on Sunday. Anyone with the brass neck to call himself Trevor "Spielberg" Arnold deserves at least to be given a chance! So click here and don't blame TBlog if its no good....

Tonbridge Arts Festival starts next Friday the 15th....

There's a good write up in the centre spread of the Courier's ents guide this weekend all about the Tonbridge Arts Festival. Having worked on this as part of the main committee for over a year now I find it staggering that, with less than a week to go before the ten day event kicks off, hardly anyone seems to know about it. Everyone close to the festival knows how much effort has been put in however there's still a way to go before ticket sales will reach levels at which we can all sit back and pat ourselves on the backs. Despite what it says in the programme which many of you may have received by now, you can book many events online and not just at the Angel Centre. You can also phone the Angel Centre to block book tickets for most events. And yes you will be able to pay on the door for events as it's highly unlikely that many will be completely sold out. Better to book in advance of course but otherwise just turn up. There's a great selection of events to choose from and you can view them all on the festival website. You can even follow it on twitter if you're into that social networking malarkey. I know I am. I'm sure, as they say, it'll be alright on the night. PLEASE!!!!

Sunday in Tonbridge should be pretty exciting....

Tomorrow should be a nice day out for Tonbridge folk. I mean how often do you get the Tonbridge Farmers Market, the Mabledon boot fair, Tonbridge Carnival and fete all in one day? And as if that wasn't enough quite a few shops will be open for business including of course the new look Mr. Books at 142 High Street. So that's a working day for me then but a great day out for most other people. As Winston Churchill once probably never said though: "Find a job you love doing and you'll never work another day in your life!"

Mr. Books is completely round the bend....

Goodbye 2 Bank Street. Hello 142 High Street!

....and take a deep breath! Mr. Books has now moved around the corner to 142 High Street. That's it I'm completely out of the old shop in Bank Street and installed in the new one. It's open although there's still quite a bit of work to be done. The sack barrow is back in storage though and the month long sort out has been done. It proved to be a very worthwhile excercise sorting through over 12,000 books. The new shop window has proved to be very popular as passers by stop and marvel at the array of old trunks and suitcases, hats and typewriters, letters and post cards. What's all that about? Well it's the first of many window themes and this one's called World Traveller. So watch out for the others coming about once a month. I'd love to say that it was all my own work but have to confess that none of it was. All the credit has to go to my Creative Director, otherwise known as my wife. She calls it work but secretly we both know that she loves doing the displays! Anyway must go as there's much more to be done tweaking here, arranging there, sorting and aphabeticising (if that's a word) and other stuff. I had masses of help moving in over the past week or two from a few very kind customers and members of the Tonbridge Civic Society in particular (you know who you are) as wel as my family. You could say it's all been a bit of a community effort which can't be a bad thing. That help is very much appreciated if not always rewarded. I hope to be in business for at least the next ten years so please come in, have a browse, buy some older books, order brand new ones instead of using the dreaded Amazon and just come in for a read and a chat if you like. More later as things develop and time permits....

The Old Mr. Books disappears without a trace!