Chamber of Commerce
With plans for the town centre revitalisation very much to the fore, and the additional 2,600 homes planned for Horley over the next few years under the Horley Master Plan, there has never been a more crucial time for the Horley & District Chamber of Commerce.
It is the belief of the Chamber that Horley can provide a good shopping centre for the people who live and work here. It will never compete with the likes of Crawley, Reigate and Redhill, but we believe it can become a place for those who prefer to shop in a more relaxed atmosphere, in retail outlets which are on the whole smaller, more specialised and offer a very personal service.
We also believe the town has a unique opportunity to meet a growing cafe culture, and within the proposed town centre plan there will be opportunities to build on this aspect. This is vital for a town which attracts so many people staying in guest houses in Horley while making use of Gatwick Airport.
The Chamber, which was inaugurated in 1945, believes that we have to maximise the benefits of having a major international airport on our doorstep. We are determined that we should reap the commercial benefits such an establishment can bring, whilst not being afraid to speak out against the environmental disadvantages. To this end we play an active role on the Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee.
We are also consulted on planning applications involving town centre premises, and business premises throughout the town. We also have good representation on the Town Centre Management Group, as well as on the specially formed Town Centre Revitalisation Task Group.The Chamber also has a close link with the Gatwick Guest House Association.
The executive committee meetings, held monthly, are open to all members, and we also hold lunch meetings on a bi-monthly basis with speakers on various topical subjects.
For many years the Chamber has been responsible for organising Christmas events in the town, with stars from local pantomime usually accepting invitations to switch on the main town centre lights.
Anybody interested in the Chamber can either phone 01293 775023 or visit the website http://www.horleychamberofcommerce.co.uk or its new search directory www.search-horley.co.uk