JIM Sawyer, who has chaired the Winchester branch of the North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the last eight years, has decided to stand down.

The 62-year-old says it's time for a change and the search is now on for his successor.

He added that he would remain on the committee of the Winchester branch and was prepared to resume his duties as chairman if another suitable candidate did not come forward.

The father-of-two, from Longparish, who is a director at Goadsby Commercial, in Jewry Street, Winchester, said: "The reason I've decided to stop is that I've been the chairman for eight years now and it really is as simple as that.

"During those eight years, I have done my best to represent the chamber and raise its profile in the city and, where possible, I've tried to make its meetings more fun."

While serving as chairman, he said, one change he had noticed was the decline in the number of commercial properties in reach of the centre of Winchester.

As an example, he pointed to the former Ford garage in Hyde Street, which, like many other employment sites, had been converted into housing.

"I've been saying all along that if we don't have room for businesses, then we will end up with a dormitory town and we won't have jobs in the city centre,"

said Mr Sawyer.

He added that he was currently uncertain who would be the next chairman of the branch.

He said it was too early to speculate who might be in line for the job.

However, he said the chamber's committee would aim to reach a decision before the end of the year.

9:56am Thursday 18th September 2008

Print

Email this