THE Heritage Coast Market Towns Initiative has secured preferential rates on credit card transactions and a range of utilities.

Project co-ordinator Annette Mason-Gordon has worked with First Data Merchant Services to obtain preferential credit card transaction rates for members of Businesses of Saxmundham, the Aldeburgh Business Association, Framlingham Business Association and Leiston Business Association.

And Rob Mabey, vice chair of the Aldeburgh association and owner of the Regatta restaurant, has worked with other committee members and the Business Advisory Service to obtain special rates on telecoms, electricity and gas which have now also been extended to the Saxmundham, Leiston and Framlingham organisations.

Annette Mason-Gordon said: “We have been working on some of these projects for a while, ensuring that we obtained the best deals for our members and it’s great to see the financial benefits which are being realised.

“Annual membership of the business associations is less than �1 per business per week so the financial gains far outweigh the subscription.”