The CBA represents the businesses of Clare in a variety of ways, such as in correspondence, through personal visits, news items and circulars.

 

The CBA co-ordinates major trading events in Clare like the annual Christmas Lights switch-on plus it liaises with outside agencies to help promote the town to tourists, visitors and locals alike.

 

The CBA hold regular meetings for members discussing matters which affect Clare and it's trade, such as parking for both traders and shoppers as well as the general traffic flow around the town. Each meeting has a 'guest speaker' to address matters which are either relevant to current affairs or could help Clare businesses to survive current problems like the economic downturn. Additionally we have had speakers and representatives from the tourism industry, the London 2012 Olympics, representatives from St Edmundsbury and Suffolk County councils and the Right Honorable Tim Yeo MP.

 

There is also a regular newsletter updating all members on what is happening generally.

Committee Members

 

 

Membership

Membership is open to any commercial business within the parish of Clare and District. Membership is not open to charities or other non-profit making organisations although CBA works closely with those whenever appropriate. It need not have a commercial outlet, such as a shop, but could function from home as a private enterprise or service company.

To become a member of the CBA, please contact Ron Longland, Secretary on 01787 277769
Membership fee for 2010 is still £25. Currently membership stands at 42, a record. This is a very good membership and represents over half of all businesses in Clare. Below is a list of current members, some of whom have website links.

 

Clare Business Association holds quarterly meetings on the last Thursday of March, June and September and the first Thursday in December. In addition, the AGM takes place on the last Thursday of January, followed by the New Year Meeting.

 

These meetings are open to all Members of Clare Business Association and 'ex-oficio' members such as the Chairman of Clare Parish Council. Invitations are also issued to the Clare representatives on St Edmundsbury Borough and Suffolk County Councils and to the local police.

 

The CBA aims to invite a guest speaker to most of its meetings to talk on topics of interest to the Clare business community. In the recent past subjects have included: The London 2012 Olympics, tourism, planning and the local economy. For the 2010 AGM, local MP Tim Yeo was the guest speaker.