Town Hall comes to the rescue of flood-hit businesses

Oct 22 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

OVER 50 small businesses forced out of their permanent home by floods in Morpeth are trading again.

The micro businesses have found a temporary home in the Town Hall after the Chantry Building was left underwater during the September floods.

Ailsa Coverdale, regeneration and partnerships manager with Castle Morpeth Borough Council, who chairs the Economic Recovery Group established to help local businesses get trading again, added: “We still have a long way to go, but many of our flooded businesses are back trading again.

“We need people to know this and to come and buy goods to help our local companies through this difficult period so that they can go into the new year with confidence.”

The Economic Recovery Group comprises Castle Morpeth Borough Council, Business Link, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Business Services, Castle Morpeth Business Forum, Morpeth Chamber of Trade and One North East.

One of the 55 businesses that has moved to the Town Hall is Sheila Chicken’s 25-year-old hand-painted china business.

She was one of the first businesses to trade from the Chantry, but has not done so since the deluge. She said: “The Chantry was my only outlet and although I didn’t lose anything of great value, I’ve not been able to work since the place was flooded.

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure how long I’d be out of action but the business support team has moved quickly to get an alternative venue sorted out and it’s great to be trading again.” Another business relocating to the Town Hall is Anji Allen whose drawings of local buildings are popular all over the region. She said: “I have lost a lot of revenue as this is traditionally a busy time of year, so it’s good to be able to open up again in Morpeth.”

Chantry manager Sue Jordan thanked stallholders and staff for their tremendous efforts in transferring the crafts and Tourist Information Centre to its new home.

She said: “We hope the move to the Town Hall will kick-start things, opening up opportunities to reach new customers and bring new visitors to the town, making it a profitable Christmas for all of our craftworkers and artists.”