Latest news with #SteveHamilton
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Businesses in Farnham call for cheaper parking as works continue
Businesses in Farnham are calling for Waverley Borough Council (WBC) to reduce parking fees during the next phase of improvement works in the part of the changes by Surrey County Council (SCC), which include wider pavements and the introduction of two-way traffic, one of the main roads, Downing Street, is due to close to through traffic and become semi-pedestrianised from 18 August until 1 Conservative MP for Farnham and Bordon, Greg Stafford, has also called for support with business said it recognised the impact the works were having on some businesses and residents. Parking charges increased in parts of the borough of Waverley in Dawkins, the owner of Farnham Family Butchers, told BBC Radio Surrey the increases had happened at the "wrong time" and were potentially "another deterrent" to stop people from coming into the said "an hour of free car parking", or a discount if shoppers stayed a certain amount of time, would help businesses. Steve Hamilton, from Hamilton's Tea House, said all the businesses were "feeling the effects" of lower footfall and reduced said it would be "really nice if Waverley could join hands with us" and take a financial hit "rather than it just being the public".Ginny Young, from Wylde Thyme, said there had been "a lot of disruption" and that it would be good to have "some leeway with parking just to give people confidence" as Farnham had "so much to offer". Mr Stafford has also urged WBC to "use its powers to give some kind of relief from business rates" to help businesses during the works."I don't want to give the impression at all that Farnham isn't thriving," he said. "It absolutely is. "It's a fantastic place to shop, to live, to work, but businesses are asking just to get a little bit of support during the disruption so that [they] can carry on because…if they were to go under because of this, that would be an absolute disaster."WBC councillor Tony Fairclough said the council recognised that "business is the lifeblood of Farnham"."We've been working with the business community in all four major settlements to develop a car park offer that will actually be effective in stimulating business revenue rather than merely bringing short stay traffic into our towns, and I'm delighted to say that they are extremely enthusiastic about the concept," he councillor Liz Townsend added that the council only retained 6% of business rates."The rates are set by the Government's Valuation Office Agency, not the council, but we do help local businesses by actively supporting them to apply for available reliefs, including small business rate relief, retail discounts and hardship support," she has been approached for comment about the impact of the works programme.
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Farnham businesses say they welcome town improvements
Businesses in Farnham have said they are feeling positive about a programme of improvements in the town, but there was concern about the government's changes to National Insurance and business which started in February include wider pavements, more pedestrian controlled crossings and changes to the gyratory, with two-way traffic introduced in parts of Downing Street and The Borough.A Surrey County Council (SCC) spokesperson said they would continue to work to minimise disruption as much as owner of Hamilton's Tea House, Steve Hamilton, told BBC Radio Surrey that the mood amongst retailers was "quite buoyant". He acknowledged there were some concerns in the short term, including around pollution levels."Sometimes the perception on social media is that the traffic is worse than it is," he said. "It flows. Yes, there's stagnation at certain times. That's short lived and the traffic does flow through."For customers, Farnham is going to be beautiful and a much nicer place to visit and shop in." From 14-18 April, BBC South East will be getting out and about on our region's high streets. Catch up on BBC South East Today on BBC iPlayer and listen to BBC Radio Kent, Sussex and Surrey on BBC Sounds. Mr Hamilton said they were being "hit hardest" by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves' decision to raise employer National Insurance contributions and reduce business rates relief from 75% to 40%.Michaela Martin, owner of the boutique Mulberry Silks and a Farnham Residents county councillor, agreed it was causing problems."I don't think Rachel Reeves even thought about that... somebody who's never been in a small business doesn't realise [the impact]."Ms Martin said she was "quite happy" with how the works were going and that she "can't complain" about trade at the moment."Farnham is a destination town," she added. "We have so many people from Marlborough, Andover, across the south coast, Dorking and everything coming [here]." An SCC spokesperson said: "While data shows that levels of car park use in Farnham remains the same, we will continue to work with the local community and local businesses to support Farnham, and to minimise disruption as much as possible."We'll also be encouraging people to consider how they travel into town, both during the works and beyond. "Changing to walking, cycling, using public transport or parking in different car parks will all help reduce pressure on the town centre's roads."A Treasury spokesperson said the government knew the "vital importance of small businesses" and had taken "necessary decisions on tax to stabilise public finances"."We are now focused on creating opportunities for businesses to compete and access the finance they need to scale, export and break into new markets," added the spokesperson.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
YouTuber Shows Off His $3M Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector Automotive enthusiast and YouTube personality Steve Hamilton is now the proud owner of one of the most extreme hypercars ever built in the U.S.—the Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution. Priced at $3 million, the Texas-made beast delivers an eye-watering 1,817 horsepower from its twin-turbo 6.6-liter V8, positioning it among the most powerful production cars in the world. Hamilton, the creator of The Hamilton Collection YouTube channel, took delivery of his high-performance machine and shared the moment with his audience. The Venom F5 Revolution is designed for extreme speed, theoretically capable of reaching 328 mph. Its aggressive aerodynamic package and track-focused tuning set it apart from the standard Venom F5, making it an even more intense driving experience. Draped in an electrifying shade of green, the car makes a bold visual statement to match its raw performance. But its imposing looks aren't the only thing grabbing attention. The hypercar's thunderous exhaust note roars with unfiltered power, a fact not lost on Hamilton and his friends. 'It's growling. Your neighbors are going to love this one,' one friend quipped in the delivery video. Beyond its sound and speed, the hypercar even has a distinct scent. 'It smells like America,' Hamilton declared, adding a patriotic touch to the occasion. With its record-breaking capabilities and unmistakable presence, the Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution is a testament to American engineering at its most extreme. For Hamilton, it's more than just a car—it's an adrenaline-fueled dream come true. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
