During August many great ideas were put forward on the blog for what you would like to see on Moreton Hall. Please keep the ideas rolling, and provide some feedback on which ideas you support!!! Your positive contributions are fantastic and your ideas are an excellent resource for councillors and business men/women alike!
The Moreton Hall Wish List as at 1 September 2007
Garden Allotments
A café/bakers in the heart of Moreton Hall
A part-time library
A farmers market
More park benches in public spaces for older people to be able to sit and rest
More seats in green areas
A Deli
Better telephone exchange with broadband access faster than 512k
Small shop for bread, milk etc on the Abbotsford Park area
Water feature/paddling pool in the heart of Moreton Hall for the Summer
Parent & Child parking space outside the post office
Train station with car parking
Large recreational field to accommodate several families
New Middle and Upper school
Visible litter bins in main green areas
Welcome to Moreton Hall signs – like village signs
Scarecrow Festival
Graffitti Wall on the underpass/bridge between Lawson Place & St James Park.
If you have some new ideas – please post them by commenting below.
I’m looking to introduce a voting system in the future – to try to pin point just which ideas you all like best…
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Teenagers: Socialise, Energise or Simply Chill!
Your new youth club is now open and ready for your ideas and energy!
The opening day of the youth club on 19th August was a great success kicking off with football matches between Moreton Hall and Hadleigh.
Throughout the day teenagers, parents and community representatives from the area wandered around the excellent new premises, and contributed their ideas on how to make the most of the long needed facility.
Here are a list of some of the ideas put forward so far:
Outdoor Equipment (Basketball hoops, footballs, etc)
Graffiti Wall
Table Football
Cooking class
Games Night
Warhammer
Arts and Crafts Session
ICT Session (web page building, etc)
Dedicated Computer for homework/research
Karaoke
Darts
Movies
XBOX games
Bean Bags
Chill Out Area
What do you think of these ideas? Do you have any more ideas?
Visit the website: www.mhyag.co.uk, Fill in an application form to join, and start taking steps to create the environment and activities you really want!
So far the Youth Club has: 4 dedicated laptops which will be wireless linked to broadband (with all the necessary online security software)
2 computers which will be linked for network gaming (Lord of the Rings)
1 large LCD TV and Xbox 360 (2 games at the moment…but members can bring in their games to play as well)
1 large TV and DVD player
Stereo System
Table Tennis
Pool Table
And there is much more to come – make sure your ideas are taken into account! Visit the website: www.mhyag.co.uk to see the opening times and fill in an application form. You can also comment below and I’ll pass your ideas on to the MHYAG.
Ask the Accountants - September
Kick starting your new accountancy feature is Devindra Mitchell who has recently opened the local Bury St Edmunds office of TaxAssist Accountants, a network of accountants that prides itself as being the champion of the small business. With over 180 offices located throughout the UK the network has a very strong support structure whilst maintaining the personal, friendly, local knowledge based approach. This month Devindra answers 2 common questions from small business owners or start ups.
Starting a new business
Q: I am thinking of starting my own business on 1st October. A friend who is currently self employed said I had to register as self employed. Can you please tell me how to do this and how soon do I have to register?
A: You have to be registered as self employed for National Insurance purposes within three months after the end of the month in which you became self-employed. In your case you would have to be registered by 31 January 2008, and failure to do so will result in a £100 fine.
There are various ways to register. The most popular ways being either by telephoning the Self Employed Registration Helpline on 08459 15 45 15, or by filling in form CWF1 which can be obtained from your local Inland Revenue office.
The form will act as a joint notification for both Tax and National Insurance purposes, and you will receive a 10 digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) for tax purposes, together with a tax return to fill in for the 2007/08 tax year in April 2008.
Increased capital allowances on cars
Q: I am currently looking to purchase a new vehicle for my sole trader business. I have heard that there is an increased rate of Capital Allowance available if I bought a certain type of vehicle. Is it true?
A: Yes, there is currently an increased rate of 100% First Year Allowances available on electric cars or cars with CO2 emissions of not more that 120g/km. To qualify for this increased rate the car should be first registered on or after 17 April 2002, and the expenditure incurred between 17 April 2002 and 31 March 2008. Also, the car must be unused and not second hand. It will meet this criteria even if it has been driven for a limited number of miles for test driving, delivery and demonstration purposes.
TaxAssist Accountants will be able to provide you with further information on the make and model of vehicles that qualify for this allowance.
Devindra Mitchell specialises in managing tax and accountancy affairs for small business owners – and can be contacted by phone on 01284 330245, or by email at burystedmunds@taxassist.co.uk.
Disclaimer: Advice shared in this feature is intended to inform rather advise. Taxpayer’s circumstances do vary and if you feel that the information is beneficial it is important that you contact us before implementation. If you take, or do not take action as a result of reading this feature, before receiving our written endorsement, we will accept no responsibility for any financial loss incurred.
Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail
Every business should have a business plan no matter if they need to raise finance or not. A business plan can help focus on important business aspects and help to achieve goals.
Research shows that those businesses that succeed are the ones run by people who have taken advice and written a business plan.
After all, business people can be excellent widget makers or trifle decorators or IT gurus, but they are not necessarily brilliant at running a business.
A Business Plan will help you set targets, collate all your ideas, plan for the future and help you to work out which of your ideas are the most realistic and workable.
It should be a clear description of how your business will move from where it is now to where you want it to be and generally would cover the following points:
• Overview
• Business details - name and address etc
• Statement of business activities – What exactly will your business do?
• Business objectives and mission statement
• Business vision and long term objectives
• Market analysis and Target Customers
• Major competitors
• Operational Costs and Price of services
• Marketing Strategy and Plan
• Financial and sales projections
Here are some of the typical hurdles business owners face when completing their business plans:
Financials
The financials are perhaps the most important section of any business plan. Lenders want to know when they will have their loans repaid and assess the risk. You will need to have a good understanding of your costs, your intended prices, your forecast of sales and any terms of business you anticipate for customers and from your suppliers.
Projections
Everyone thinks their business will grow exponentially in the first 12 months but in reality this is rarely the case. Your business plan must show a realistic path to profitability that proves your actual revenues and profits are comparable with your plan.
Format
Your business plan doesn’t have to be a 100 page epic nor should it be a 1/2 page overview. You should have enough written to make your points clear, but not so detailed that it confuses the reader.
Marketing
Communicating your products or services to your prospects is a critical success factor for every business owner. You need to show you understand your target customers, what their needs are, why they will buy from you rather than someone else and how you intend to communicate with them.
Understand your Plan
Having a free business template from a bank or having an accountant prepare your plan may save you a headache, but it is you who needs to understand everything that is written in your plan.
If you would like help preparing your business plan or just want to talk through a business idea, MENTA runs regular master classes as well as confidential one to one business adviser sessions.
Article supplied by Menta
Telephone: 01284 760206
Research shows that those businesses that succeed are the ones run by people who have taken advice and written a business plan.
After all, business people can be excellent widget makers or trifle decorators or IT gurus, but they are not necessarily brilliant at running a business.
A Business Plan will help you set targets, collate all your ideas, plan for the future and help you to work out which of your ideas are the most realistic and workable.
It should be a clear description of how your business will move from where it is now to where you want it to be and generally would cover the following points:
• Overview
• Business details - name and address etc
• Statement of business activities – What exactly will your business do?
• Business objectives and mission statement
• Business vision and long term objectives
• Market analysis and Target Customers
• Major competitors
• Operational Costs and Price of services
• Marketing Strategy and Plan
• Financial and sales projections
Here are some of the typical hurdles business owners face when completing their business plans:
Financials
The financials are perhaps the most important section of any business plan. Lenders want to know when they will have their loans repaid and assess the risk. You will need to have a good understanding of your costs, your intended prices, your forecast of sales and any terms of business you anticipate for customers and from your suppliers.
Projections
Everyone thinks their business will grow exponentially in the first 12 months but in reality this is rarely the case. Your business plan must show a realistic path to profitability that proves your actual revenues and profits are comparable with your plan.
Format
Your business plan doesn’t have to be a 100 page epic nor should it be a 1/2 page overview. You should have enough written to make your points clear, but not so detailed that it confuses the reader.
Marketing
Communicating your products or services to your prospects is a critical success factor for every business owner. You need to show you understand your target customers, what their needs are, why they will buy from you rather than someone else and how you intend to communicate with them.
Understand your Plan
Having a free business template from a bank or having an accountant prepare your plan may save you a headache, but it is you who needs to understand everything that is written in your plan.
If you would like help preparing your business plan or just want to talk through a business idea, MENTA runs regular master classes as well as confidential one to one business adviser sessions.
Article supplied by Menta
Telephone: 01284 760206
Welcome to the Business Room - September
Welcome to The Business Room. Over the last few months this feature has grown in terms of the number of business to business related advertisers. In conjunction with this, a large percentage of those who advertise within the magazine are Moreton Hall residents who manage or run their own business. With both these factors in mind I felt there was a real need to develop the business room even further. Consequently this month we’ve introduced a new feature to The Business Room which draws on the expertise of local accountants (see page 34). Over the next few months different local accountants will be contributing to this feature, answering some of your key questions, and providing some priceless tips on tax, accounts and money matters.
Also this month, Adecco recruitment are advertising job vacancies (see page 35). If you run a business and would like to advertise employment vacancies to Moreton Hall Residents, why not get in touch?
With Accountants, Web Designers, Graphic Designers, Business Training, Recruitment and Computer Services, The Moreton Hall Directory can help to source many business to business needs, plus with its diverse range of advertisers it can also work as great networking tool, putting you in touch with the people you need. If you offer a service you feel other businesses would benefit from contact Tina on 01284 735143, or email tina@moretonhalldirectory.com
Also this month, Adecco recruitment are advertising job vacancies (see page 35). If you run a business and would like to advertise employment vacancies to Moreton Hall Residents, why not get in touch?
With Accountants, Web Designers, Graphic Designers, Business Training, Recruitment and Computer Services, The Moreton Hall Directory can help to source many business to business needs, plus with its diverse range of advertisers it can also work as great networking tool, putting you in touch with the people you need. If you offer a service you feel other businesses would benefit from contact Tina on 01284 735143, or email tina@moretonhalldirectory.com
The Flying Fortress Connection
The pub on the edge of Moreton Hall, along with its name, the “Flying Fortress” has always captured my imagination. It is a unique, very Bury St Edmunds venue, which is firmly connected to a piece of the area’s history - the wartime presence of the American 8th airforce at nearby Rougham airfield, with their planes - the Flying Fortresses. “Flying Fortress” was the name given to the wartime B17 bomber - which the pub sign indeed depicts. The Flying Fortress Pub is in effect a mini museum, full of memorabilia and photographs commemorating the 8th airforce and their planes.
From Farmhouse to Pub
Originally a small holding farm, the house was taken over by the ministry during the war, and afterwards, it was the farm foreman’s house, of Cattishall Farm. The main Cattishall farmhouse was distantly opposite, beyond the railway bridge.
Keith Allchin - the pub proprietor, was once the farm foreman, resident in the foreman’s house, but 18 years ago, he and his wife Rosemary converted it into a pub. Keith’s parents had been in the licensed trade, so it was a business which was second nature to him. The pictures on the wall of the pub show the conversion taking place - it has been extended twice - and there is a lovely aerial view showing the time when the surrounding area was all fields.
Although Keith is not of the war generation, he explained that it would have been difficult to live in the area and not develop an interest in the wartime airbase connection. The connection is still felt here, very strongly.
The Famous Flying Fortresses
Although other planes had been in use at Rougham Airfield during the war, none was as successfully used in this area as the B17. The Flying Fortress is a plane that is said to epitomise the 8th Airforce during their time in the UK, and it was the American press in praise of the plane who first said it was “like a flying fortress” - and the name stuck!
For more information, do visit the locally based Rougham Tower Museum (www.rougham.org) housed in the restored wartime control tower, and open from 11-4.0 every Sunday up to the end of October, and of course the Flying Fortress Pub, a living piece of local history on your doorstep.
© Ruby in Bury
From Farmhouse to Pub
Originally a small holding farm, the house was taken over by the ministry during the war, and afterwards, it was the farm foreman’s house, of Cattishall Farm. The main Cattishall farmhouse was distantly opposite, beyond the railway bridge.
Keith Allchin - the pub proprietor, was once the farm foreman, resident in the foreman’s house, but 18 years ago, he and his wife Rosemary converted it into a pub. Keith’s parents had been in the licensed trade, so it was a business which was second nature to him. The pictures on the wall of the pub show the conversion taking place - it has been extended twice - and there is a lovely aerial view showing the time when the surrounding area was all fields.
Although Keith is not of the war generation, he explained that it would have been difficult to live in the area and not develop an interest in the wartime airbase connection. The connection is still felt here, very strongly.
The Famous Flying Fortresses
Although other planes had been in use at Rougham Airfield during the war, none was as successfully used in this area as the B17. The Flying Fortress is a plane that is said to epitomise the 8th Airforce during their time in the UK, and it was the American press in praise of the plane who first said it was “like a flying fortress” - and the name stuck!
For more information, do visit the locally based Rougham Tower Museum (www.rougham.org) housed in the restored wartime control tower, and open from 11-4.0 every Sunday up to the end of October, and of course the Flying Fortress Pub, a living piece of local history on your doorstep.
© Ruby in Bury
In Loving Memory of Martyn Franklin, and to help others…
Moreton Hall resident Vanessa Frary (known as Nell to her friends), is running the Great North Run in loving memory of her brother Martyn Franklin, and to raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI).
Nell and her family suffered a tragic loss last November when the unpredictable force of the ocean claimed her brother’s life while he was out fishing at Ben Acre Sluice near Lowestoft. A rescue mission was launched by the RNLI when Martyn was swept out to sea, but due to weather conditions and extremely high waves, the mission was unsuccessful.
Martyn had previously worked as a volunteer for RNLI and had been involved in rescue missions himself. In fact, unbeknown to the crew, it was the very lifeboat he had worked on, who received the shout to help save him. Now, in memory of her brother, and to help the RNLI continue to help others who fall victim to the sea, Nell is running a half marathon from Newcastle to Gateshead on September 30th.
Martyn knew and respected the ocean and tidal movements, but still his life was taken by a freak accident. Nell has the utmost respect for members of the RNLI who risk their own lives on a regular basis to help others.
If you would like to support Nell and help this important cause please visit: www.justgiving.com/MartynFranklin
Nell and her family suffered a tragic loss last November when the unpredictable force of the ocean claimed her brother’s life while he was out fishing at Ben Acre Sluice near Lowestoft. A rescue mission was launched by the RNLI when Martyn was swept out to sea, but due to weather conditions and extremely high waves, the mission was unsuccessful.
Martyn had previously worked as a volunteer for RNLI and had been involved in rescue missions himself. In fact, unbeknown to the crew, it was the very lifeboat he had worked on, who received the shout to help save him. Now, in memory of her brother, and to help the RNLI continue to help others who fall victim to the sea, Nell is running a half marathon from Newcastle to Gateshead on September 30th.
Martyn knew and respected the ocean and tidal movements, but still his life was taken by a freak accident. Nell has the utmost respect for members of the RNLI who risk their own lives on a regular basis to help others.
If you would like to support Nell and help this important cause please visit: www.justgiving.com/MartynFranklin
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