The inaugural meeting of the Buntingford Branch of the Chamber of Trade and Commerce was on Thursday March 3 1955, at which the following were present: Mr Bonner of Moss Bros; Mr Hope of Dupont’s; Mr Neville & Mr Borsberry, ironmongers; Mr Howlett, butcher; Mr Tottman, grocer; Mr Wilson & Mr Taylor, The Stores at Gt Hormead; Mr Jarvis, shoe repairer; Mr Castle, Castle & Mays Builders; Mr Smith, garage; Mr Wells, toolmaker; Mr Cooper, cinema proprietor; Mr Peskett, fishmonger; Mr Harris, builder; Mr Cole, Cole & Bygraves Sheet Metal Works; Mr Devonshire, hairdresser; Mr Handy, builder; Mrs Bailey, WH Lee Auctioneers; Mr Walker, hairdresser; Mr Maugham, solicitor; Mr & Mrs Taylor, drapers; Mrs Burrell, stationers; Mrs Thody, fruiterer & greengrocer; Mrs Chaplin, antiques; Mr Greensmith, chemist.
The annual subscription was fixed at £1.1.0 (one guinea). Rules of the Organisation were agreed.
The first concerns of BBOCTC over the next couple of years, included:
- to send a telegram to Mr Duncan Sandys (Minister of Housing & Local Government) “to protest strongly against increased rate burden proposed on shopkeepers”, at a cost to the Chamber of 14 shillings and sixpence for two identical telegrams.
- Concern was expressed that the local schools had taken to trading directly with clothing manufacturers rather than using local traders for school uniforms.
- Concern was raised about planning proposals, and a letter sent asking for the District Nurse to be given a garage.
- Action was taken to get the Playing Field grass cut.
- Discussion was had about the sacking of three employees of Buntingford Rural District Council Water Department, as a result of changing from direct labour to contracting out water maintenance work for reasons of cost.
- Concern was expressed about inadequate lighting in the High Street and the resiting of kerb stones.
- Concern was expressed about parking for shoppers and visitors (May 1956) and a suggestion that parking bays be put along the High Street because of the increased volume of traffic.
- It was noted that petrol rationing was still in existence in April 1957 and this affected the bus timetables between Buntingford, Hertford and Royston.
- The first town event to be suggested was a Shopping Week to coincide with the Gymkhana being held by the Sports Association, but this idea met a discouraging response.
On December 1 1955 the fog was so bad that few people could travel to the BBOCTC meeting. However, they were able to hold a post-Christmas get-together at the Little Vienna restaurant in Buntingford, at which they had an Illusionist (Mr Boorman) plus two people who played the piano and violin (Mr Hickford & partner).
The first general meetings of BBOCTC took place in either the Chairman’s residence, the Treasurer’s residence or Bridgefoot House Council Chambers on a monthly basis. Meetings in December 1969 were held at The Shah. Further notes were kept from April 1970 – March 1979 but only recorded attendance. From May 1988 the record of signatories of attendance also included the businesses they represented – with names now lost to the High Street like Trudgett’s, The Key Shop, Buntingford Mowers, Neil’s Bookshop, Chadwell Tools, The old Swan Tea Shop in Hare Street, Old Stables, Foilprint, Morash Crafts, Spinning Wheel, Trencrom, Webb’s. A Mr J. Bonner attended most meetings.
First Rules of the Organisation agreed March 1955.
The Objects and Membership were exactly the same as written in the 1988 Constitution.
Financial year would be 1 May to 30 April.
Quorum for general meetings: 25% of the membership.
Officers: President (an Honorary post with no voting rights); Executive Committee: a minimum of six members including Chair, Secretary and Treasurer with the option of co-opting up to three more for specific projects. The Executive Committee elects its own Chair who has no vote except a casting vote. Quorum for Executive: 5. If a committee member fails to attend 50% of possible meetings, they will be deemed to have resigned.
The organisation would be terminated if the membership dropped below 12.
The Chamber’s general meetings had speakers:
“The Businessman’s Income Tax” – an accountant
“Fire Prevention” (comment on the film on fire prevention ‘quality left much to be desired’.)
“Economics in Business” – Hatfield Technical College
Items in July 1957: the proposed closure of the local office of Ministry of Labour.
It was agreed to put signs at both ends of the town.
In March 1958, there was a motion favouring “the introduction of light industry into Buntingford”. A speaker from Royston COC talked on “The Trials and Tribulations of Industrial Development”.
(Attendance at meetings in the mid-1950s ranged from 12 – 19. There was much complaining about the low attendance!)
In September 1958, the Chamber expressed its “unanimous disapproval” of the Secondary Modern School registering for the sale of ice-cream. Letters of protest were sent to Herts CC and the school’s Board of Governors.
There were complaints that the phone service in the town was not good.
The Chamber worked with the Football Club to put on an annual Carnival and Fete, including High Street shop decorations.
In October 1959 it was proposed that Barclays make a Night Safe available for local businesses – but this was dropped for lack of support.
March 1961 It was agreed that the Secretary to the Chamber be paid an honorarium of seven-and-a-half guineas per annum (secretaries kept resigning). They also agreed to change the name to Buntingford Chamber of Trade, and leave out ‘Commerce’. The main preoccupations were “the deplorable state of the High Street” and “the question of Trade Refuse Collection”. The roadman hadn’t swept the street for some time, and a once a week perishable trade waste collection was not enough. It was agreed that Christmas Tree lights be sited by the almshouses.
The first part of Buntingford’s Parking Plan was to use Market Hill, plus the Council’s ground in Baldock Road for heavy vehicles.
April 1962 A new sewage disposal plant needed to be built to cope with the town growing to 5,000. A meeting of BCOT with the District Surveyor was set up, but only 6 out of 61 people attended. The minutes recorded that “It was extremely bad manners, I thought, and a description of paralytic apathy in this town.” The town was in the doldrums: there were letters to the press complaining about empty, dirty properties in the High Street (though existing businesses were doing well). Particular disgust was expressed towards the Town Hall Committee which failed to reply to letters or produce any proposals for the development of the town.
The only recorded success was that the 7 am bus from Buntingford to Hertford had been reinstated.
Carnival Week that year had a treasure hunt and bingo. Arrangements were made for a Chamber of Trade float in the Carnival, themed “Buntingford is no ghost town.” 25.9.62 minutes recorded that, after all costs had been taken into account, there had been a profit of £1.16s.7d. A donation of two guineas was made to the Football Club, so the end result was an overall loss of 25 pence. “It was agreed that financial success was not all-important, and that the advertising and general interest aroused was well worth the effort.”
In an era of Council housing, it was noted that they had become self-supporting and required no subsidy made from the General Rate for their upkeep – “this was received with pleasurable surprise by the Committee.”
October 1962 The Town Hall Fund that had been set up post-War was made into a charity, so no tax needed to be paid. They were looking to build a public hall on the playing fields site. There were rumours about the railway branch line closing. It was proposed that there should be a Christmas Shopping Week with coloured lights in the town.
March 1963 The latest census shows a loss of population in Braughing Rural District – the only district in Hertfordshire to show a loss. Sainsbury’s applied to develop their depot site and build 120 new houses for their workers.
April 1963 BCOT received 50 Keep Britain Tidy stickers. The Chamber wrote to the Ministry of Transport asking if it was all right to have coloured lights across the highway. A move to get a pedestrian crossing in the High Street was turned down by the Police. Buntingford Charities put The Angel Orchard site up for sale, and there was an immediate request from the Parish Council to apply for planning permission for it to become a car park – subsequently agreed by the Rural District Council to purchase the site at a nominal price.
June 1963 Anotehr Carnival – this time with a treasure hunt, bingo session and window dressing competition – to be judged by a “local personality, preferably a housewife”. Miss Lloyd-Taylor was suggested: a past Chair of Braughing RDC. The Chamber’s float to be a Japanese Tea Party scene. There was anger expressed at the Mercury for writing adverse editorial about Buntingford traders, so ads would be taken out in the Crow instead. There was continued frustration at how long it took to be connected to a non-local call through the telephone exchange. The Operator would take your number to ring back if the number you wanted was engaged, but would only do so many hours later.
September 1963 Buntingford Charity Trustees asked the Charity Commission to view the proposed car park site with a view to allowing Braughing RDC to purchase it at a nominal price “as such a car park would benefit the people of the town as much as, or more than, coal distribution or such like”. However the Charity Commission did not support letting it go for a nominal sum, so BRDC would not be able to afford to buy it.
February 1964 The Chamber was doing press advertising once a quarter to highlight the many traders in the town.
March 1964 Accounts showed a balance of £45.15s.9d at year end.
June 1964 Ministry of Transport 20 minute parking in the High Street, to deal with the problem of speeding in the High Street.
November 1964 A profit of £23 from the Carnival, so there was a 5 Guinea donation to the Football Club.
December 1964 Complaints that “certain persons were conducting business activities from their home address” so as not to pay rates.
January 1965 Decided on a campaign to bring more people into the town around the theme “Buntingford is a friendly place”. Agreed to spend 3s/7d (approximately 20p each) on 100 display signs for shop windows.
March 1965 BCOT decided to donate a tea-trolley to the Old People’s Home. They also looked at the possibility of a Trade Fair (with marquee) during Carnival Week. A Bingo session was held in support of the Winston Churchill Memorial Fund, raising £12.1s.9d.
May 1965 Agreed to present a trophy for the best float in the Carnival.
July 1965 There was interest in Sainsbury’s expansion plans which would increase their employees to nearly 1000. The Trade Fair had been a “very satisfactory effort”.
November 1965 Dissatisfaction was expressed at the once-a-week street cleaning of the High Street. Progress in car parking had been delayed whilst Bowling Green Lane was ‘made up’ as a road. There were objections to a petrol filling station on the Adam & Eve site.
May 1966 Plans for a ‘beat group’ alongside the usual Bingo were attacked.
June 1966 Concern was expressed that “schools appear to be acting as shops”, selling pens to children. The Chamber managed to get this stopped.
September 1966 This year’s attempt at a Trade Fair was disappointing – only 3 out of 7 stalls was taken (charged at £18 per stall; £13 the previous year).
December 1966 Meeting abandoned as not quorate (only 5 turned up). (During 1967-1968 there was no President. Too few members attending meetings.)
March 1967 It was suggested that a by-pass for Buntingford would solve traffic problems.
1968 Xmas lights were planed for 1969. There were meetings to do with the Carnival, Trade Fair, Bingo and refuse collection.
June 1970 Disagreement between two traders – urged to maintain a sense of loyalty to each other. There was a lack of interest in the Trade Fair. Decimal currency classes had been made available at Ware College.
February 1971 The reopening of a market in Buntingford was suggested. Attendance at meetings about 9.
In 1971 there was a proposal to make Bowling Green Lane access to a proposed Angel Orchard car park.
(A gap in the files…)
February 1986 Buntingford Town Council, Herts Chamber of Trade and Commerce, and local traders got together to see if there was a wish to form a Buntingford Chamber of Commerce (“which had previously folded some 10 years before”).
April 1986 The inaugural meeting of the new Chamber was attended by 34 local business people and traders. It was named the Buntingford & District Chamber of Commerce. Annual subscription £15 (35 paid up members). There was £102.12 left in the bank from the old COC. It was agreed that the BCOC would affiliate to Herts Chamber of Trade and Commerce.
May & June 1986 Agenda items: a social event at The Crown; Xmas Lighting; Town Twinning with commercial people in Luynes; Buntingford Town Plan, Carnival logo to be done by competition in schools; publicity in The Advertiser.
October 1986 A query whether BCOC should stay affiliated to Herts CToC after unimpressive conduct at a meeting!
January 1987 Someone did a shopper’s survey. A summary of dislikes was shared: lunchtime closing; shops not opening on Wednesday mornings; shops closing at 5 pm. It was suggested that there could be one late shopping night per week, and shop window lighting.
February 1987 Celebration that the by-pass due to open in June, which would relieve traffic in the town.
October 1987 Reported that a High Street Residents Association had been formed.
December 1987 Reference to “Bowling Green Lane Car Park” in existence.
September 1988 It was greed to plan 400 daffodil bulbs on the verge by Sainsbury’s. (A grant available from the Hertfordshire Ground Trust.) Some revision was made to the Rule Book.
May 1989 There was a successful May Day market. Reference to the “Tannery Car Park”.
August 1989 Interest expressed in a Crime Watch Scheme in the High Street.
September 1989 Agreed there should be another Shopper’s Survey (aided by Interviewing Services). 400 interviews to be conducted at £5 per head. There was a complaint about pigeons making a mess in the High Street, particularly at GA Properties.
November 1989 Opposition was expressed towards take-aways at Pastels and Piggots Butchers.
December 1989 It was decided not to pursue the idea of one way traffic in the High Street.
February 1990 Street cleaning to increase to three times a week. Permanent brackets to be fixed to some High Street buildings for Xmas lights.
June 1990 Noted that 43 cars are parked in the High Street car park all day Monday to Friday, but only 5 at weekends.
August 1990 Moves to remove the Council tip at Aspenden. The Shopping Survey highlighted “rude and unhelpful staff at Gateways”.
October 1990 More daffodils ordered (600) for the roundabouts at the ends of the town. Noted that the Post Office is being sold – it will “always be a Post Office but not necessarily a Sorting Office”. Membership of BCOC currently 60.
June 1991 Rates at Park Farm industrial estate have been re-valued down.
November 1991 Noted that the Shopping Survey had still not been carried out. Move towards a Federation of Hertfordshire Chambers of Commerce.
February 1992 An Open Meeting “was a total waste of time” as only 3 members attended. It was reported that the Shopping Survey was now complete and had collected 47,000 pieces of information. Traffic Wardens have arrived in the town. 13 shops are empty or on the market.
May 1992 The Shopping Survey “did not answer any questions”. ~Everyone was given a copy.
June 1992 Buntingford Town Council paid £70, half the cost of the Shoppers Survey.
May 1993 “A bad year for the COC” reported at the AGM.
August 1993 Application made by Tesco’s for a store and petrol station – objections raised with East Herts District Council.
April 1994 After much complaining about the cost of advertising in The Crow and The Mercury, it was decided that the COC would produce its own advertising leaflet to go with The Shop Window, a free weekly advertising paper.
August 1994 Tesco withdrew its application.
November 1994 Complaints from shopkeepers losing business because of restrictive parking in the High Street.
December 1994 Late Night Shopping promotion event, supported by Churchills.
September 1995 More complaints about the lack of attendance at meetings.
July 1996 A “Pride in Buntingford” initiative, promoted by Buntingford Town Council. Ken Jack opened a hardware store. Co-op opened.
September 1998 The BCOC “almost folded”, though it had raised £20,000 in five years for Xmas Lights. Subscriptions – 73.
(Gap)
April 2004 Meeting held with 43 out of 66 members. The High Street, Market Hill, Baldock Road stores now all on board.
May 2004 A French market was held in the town on a Saturday, but received abuse from the usual market traders. John and Carole Warren resigned from BCOC.
August 2004 James Radley optician arrived. Reported that Xmas events included roast chestnuts, bell-ringing, poetry readings in the Library.
May 2005 First email filed!