New members joined in August 2008:

Ardern Dies Ltd - Toolmakers to the packaging industry.

Crystal Angels - Quality Gift items at competitive prices. Many have been designed by skilled crafters from around the North West.

La Romantica - Enrico welcomes everyone to try his authentic Italian food.

J. W. Mulligan & Sons - Hardware, household and plastic suppliers. We pride ourselves on our friendly and helpful staff.

Sahara - Indian takeaway serving curries and kebabs. Free delivery service available within a 3 mile radius. All meals freshly cooked to order and served in special heat-retaining packaging.

New members joined in June 2008:

Jones Law Partnership Solicitors - An expanding firm which retains personal contact and the highest levels of professionalism. We have experienced solicitors handling Family and Divorce, Conveyancing, Commercial Leases, Personal Injury and Wills and Probate.

Scratch Nails & Beauty - Professional, friendly family-run Nail and Beauty salon offering a full range of quality treatments including facials, spray tanning, eye treatments, waxing, make-up, electrolysis, aromatherapy and reflexology.

New members joined in April 2008:

Suburban Ink - We are a modern professional studio, offering a wide range of tattoo styles including recolour, old school, tribal and black& grey. Specialists in custom work and cover-ups. Own designs and artwork welcome.

Check your blood pressure - and help Martha’s kidney research campaign

Visitors to Marple town centre will be able to get free blood pressure tests whilst they are out shopping this Saturday (March 15).

Trained medical staff will be on hand to administer the health checks at Boots the Chemist on Market Street from 10 am to 4 pm. The tests are free, but donations will be requested on behalf of the “Find a Cure for Martha” fund.

Marple Business Forum, which has organised the blood pressure day, is supporting the fund which aims to raise £1 million for kidney research. The local campaign is led by a plucky three-year-old girl, Martha Stringer, who has incurable kidney disease.

Martha, who lives in Marple, suffers from FSGS, a condition that leads to kidney failure. Inspired by her spirit, the Marple Business Forum, which represents the traders in Marple, is undertaking a number of initiatives to fund vital medical research into the condition.

Said Marple Business Forum chairman David Hoyle: “The blood pressure testing day for Marple shoppers is our first fund raising event for the Find a Cure for Martha appeal. Apparently high blood pressure is an early warning sign for kidney problems.

“World Kidney Day is taking place next week so we thought we would boost public support for the appeal and give Marple shoppers the chance to check their own blood pressure at the same time.”

In addition to seeking donations from all those who participate in the free blood tests, collectors will be touring the town centre armed with collection tins. Many local shops are also asking customers to make donations.

Marple Means Business

Click here for the January 2008 issue of the Marple Means Business newsletter.

Marple's gone Christmas crackers!

Marple residents enjoyed a cracker of a festive event at the weekend (Saturday December 1).

The Marple Business Forum organised the Christmas Cracker, which involved local shops and businesses and attracted many people with various entertainment.

It was supported by Marple Churches Together, Stockport Council, local organisations, schools, choirs, bands and drama groups.

There were four performing areas across the town centre, with events taking place all day.

Santa was on hand to listen to Christmas wish lists and ensure everyone had been behaving themselves, and there was food and drink aplenty.

(Reprinted with kind permission from Stockport Express December 5.)

Marple Means Business

Click here for the August 2007 issue of the Marple Means Business newsletter.

Marple Means Business

Click here for the January 2007 issue of the Marple Means Business newsletter.

Marple Means Business

Click here for the October 2006 issue of the Marple Means Business newsletter.

Marple Means Business

Click here for the August 2006 issue of the Marple Means Business newsletter.

Historic bridge restoration one step closer following donation from Marple Business Forum

Traders in Marple have donated £750 towards the restoration of the historic Iron Bridge in Brabyns Park.

Marple Business Forum decided to make the donation after hearing about the campaign to restore the 192 year old Iron Bridge to its former glory.

The campaign is being led by the Iron Bridge Restoration Project Group. The group has already won a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £30,100, and local fund raising efforts have so far raised a further £12,200 in match funding towards the restoration phase.

Said Marple Business Forum chairman Paul Whatmough: “The Iron Bridge is an important part of the town’s history. The aim of the Marple Business Forum is to help make improvements to the town to make it more attractive to visitors and residents alike, so we were delighted to give this contribution to the restoration group.”

The Iron Bridge, which was built in 1813 by Salford Iron Works, has just received Listed Building Consent from English Heritage.

For more information about the project visit www.marple-uk.com/ironbridge

Marple guidebook launched

Visit Marple, the town's first guidebook for many years, has just been published. The colourful booklet is designed to be both a guide to Marple's traders and an invaluable reference to all the amenities and attractions on offer in the town.

The free guide is being distributed to every single house in Marple, Marple Bridge, Mellor and Compstall. It will also be available further afield, to attract visitors to the town. Local council offices, tourist information centres and estate agents from a wide area will be distributing the guide.

Entitled Visit Marple - a guide to a vibrant, historic town, the guide contains an A-Z listing of Marple Business Forum members, together with a trader locator section to help readers find traders by their business type.

Other features include a short history of Marple and key facts about the town, information about links with its namesake town in the USA and details on the many amenities the town has to offer.

In addition it lists Marple's many clubs, groups and associations with contact details, provides useful contact numbers, and lists the town's healthcare facilities, schools and churches. A street map of the town is also included in the guide.

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