Euro makes an impact (From Western Telegraph)

Euro makes an impact

THE EURO has already made its mark on Pembrokeshire. With Ireland and much of continental Europe adopting the currency from January 1st, several companies in the county are accepting the new currency too.

Stena Line, which runs ferries from Fishguard to Rosslare, says the changeover has been smooth.

We have been preparing for this for a long time, and so far, so good, said a spokesman last week.

All staff have been trained to deal with the new money and all tills have been converted. This week has been a big test, with a large volume of people travelling back to Ireland after the Christmas break, but there have been no problems so far.

The Oakwood theme park, which attracts many Irish tourists, has also confirmed it will accept the new currency at its gates.

And smaller firms are accepting the currency, too. Morris Brothers, of Tenby, has spent £4,000 converting its electronic tills - helped by a technology and innovation grant under Pembrokeshire County Councils Business Support Fund - to work out product prices in euros.

Run by Europhile Howard Lewis, the camping and hardware store has already received a lot of interest in the new currency.

Mr Lewis said: We have had a few continental visitors in, as well as those from Ireland. Ireland has been overlooked in the media coverage about the euro, but it is where a lot of our trade comes from, particularly in the summer, and we hope to benefit from that, he said.

A spokesman for Tesco said that its Pembroke Dock store, which lies just off the main road to the towns Irish Ferries terminal, has no plans to take the euro.

But Mr Marley Davies, of Victoria Bookshop, Haverfordwest, said: We are certainly considering taking the euro if it is offered to us.

Meanwhile, travel agent Thomas Cook said demand for the new money from British holidaymakers has been exceptional.

The company will continue to change legacy currency from the Eurozone countries until February. Coins are being collected for the Children In Need appeal.

A business spokesman for Barclays Bank said the change seems to have gone smoothly for the British companies who have embraced the euro.

l A spokesman from Lloyds/TSB in Haverfordwest said: The handling charge for the Euro will be one and a half percent, a minimum of three pounds, which is the same for all foreign currency.