Future looks bright for Wetherby Business Association

The Wetherby business community has rallied round to save the town's business association which was on the verge of collapse due to a lack of committee members.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jan 2016, 13:44 BST
Updated 28th Jan 2016, 13:49 BST
Sant Angelos Catherine Spence del Bueno with Steve Kay, retiring chair of the business association, new chair Alan Beardmore and Denise Podlewska.Sant Angelos Catherine Spence del Bueno with Steve Kay, retiring chair of the business association, new chair Alan Beardmore and Denise Podlewska.
Sant Angelos Catherine Spence del Bueno with Steve Kay, retiring chair of the business association, new chair Alan Beardmore and Denise Podlewska.

Last week the Wetherby News revealed the organisation, which has served the town for more than 40 years, would be dissolved if enough people didn’t come forward at its AGM on Tuesday.

However, as a result of our front page appeal, spaces on the committee have now been filled and the association’s future is now looking bright.

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Vice-chairman Denise Podlewska said: “I’m really pleased that everything came together on the night. Around 25 people came, which is really good as normally only two or three turn up.

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“The people were very positive and they are people who really want to do things and help make it a success, which is the nicest part of it.

“We are really grateful to the Wetherby News because it brought to light what was happening and I think it was a wake up call for the town. It would have been a totally different outcome without it.”

Two new directors volunteered and were appointed at the AGM, along with a new treasurer.

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• Alan Beardmore, A1 Insurance, who was the Treasurer, was elected as chairman

• Denise Podlewska, AJ Promotions, was re-elected as vice chair

• Kate Robinson, from Hartlaw, was re-elected as secretary

• Jonathan Crossley, Brays Accountants, was elected as treasurer

• The new directors are Nish Kanabar, Castlegate Stationery, and Julie Gray, Kool Kidz Uniforms

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Other members offered to canvas shop owners to find out their views prior to the next meeting.

Plans for the future include replacing once of the association’s monthly meetings with an informal networking event every three months to encourage new members to join.

Mrs Podlewska said: “I think we all came away feeling much more confident about the future than a week ago, and the association can now move forward.”

Meanwhile Wetherby’s Sant Angelo Italian Restaurant has collected £800 from its customers and staff to donate to the upkeep of the Wetherby Christmas lights, which are organised by the association.

Related topics:WetherbyAGM