TOWNS ALIVE NATIONAL AWARDS ’13

In 2004, Action for Market Towns,

AMT, launched their Awards

programme. After almost 10

years of existence, the Towns

Alive National Awards are as

strong as ever and continue to

recognise the achievement and

relentless work of individuals

committed to the vitality of our

towns.

Here are the 19 projects

which have made it as

category winners.

Ossett Observer was set up in late 2011 as an

arts organisation for the town of Ossett. In

response to a decline in the town’s prosperity,

a series of arts projects were devised that

would encourage people of all ages to spend

more time in their town.

The Homegrown Food Festival is the first of its kind in Northallerton. It builds on and

amplifies community interest in growing your own food, using local produce, supporting local

producers and becoming a more sustainable town.

Selected by the

Salvation Army to be

used as a charity

shop, thanks to the

vision of councillors and the town centre management (TCM) partnership, the Rochdale emporium,

a beautiful art deco building but vacant property became a unique quality retail destination.

The Rochford Art Trail involved temporary art exhibitions, by 100 artists, displayed in 35 shops, businesses and public buildings. Offers and vouchers track visitor numbers and spend; a Tiny Trail children’s treasure hunt engages families.

Beccles Lido Limited (BLL) is a community group that took over, renovated and now operates the heated open-air swimming pool

in Beccles.The group has saved a near derelict site, galvanised the local community, ran a major fundraising programme, and with over 10,000 volunteer hours and help from local businesses saved the much-loved community facility.

At 6.15pm every evening between the 1st and 24th December a different door or window around Henley town centre opens, and a 15-minute performance by a local performer takes place.

It may look like just 24 performances to raise money for charity – but it achieves far more!

Henfield Hub is a community website which uses state-of-the-art web technology to connect residents,

businesses and visitors with the latest news,

events and local stories.

Information is uploaded directly by the clubs, societies,

charities, businesses and community organisations in

the area to deliver “Henfield at the touch of a button”.

Lancing’s Sensory Garden project is an

inclusive community garden, designed by the

community, sourced locally and built by the

community for everyone to enjoy!

The Sevenoaks Town Partnership is a new and energetic team who are committed to combining resources and developing innovative and achievable projects to boost the town’s footfall and local economy.

Leek had lost its confidence, despite being a prime tourist destination on the edge of the Peak District, with many diverse independent businesses and well-established markets. The challenge was to enhance the local economy by establishing Sunday trading after a number of attempts had never been sustainable or commercially successful.

In June 2011 Leek launched the ‘Sunday Supplement’ – turning Leek into a Sunday destination for browsing, chilling, eating, drinking and shopping on the first Sunday of every month. Explore South Lakeland is a new website which adopts an engaging and innovative approach to encourage people to explore what’s on their doorstep. It provides great ideas for activities to do, hidden gems to see, and local events to enjoy with friends and family in South Lakeland’s many beautiful locations.

Bloxwich Community Orchard is an urban community orchard that empowers the local community to help grow, maintain and distribute the harvest of apples, pears, cherries, plums, apricots, peaches, blueberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, redcurrants, raspberries, tayberries, gooseberries and rhubarb within their local community making money to reinvest in their town.

In 2010 Altrincham had one of the highest proportions of vacant retail units in the country at 37%. Stalled developments exacerbated the

problem and the town centre retail spaces needed revitalising.

Altrincham Forward – a public/private sector partnership set up in Altrincham – has established a clear action plan to improve and revitalise the town centre.

Bay Gallery is a Community Art and Craft Gallery run as a small charity, by local volunteers, which offers local artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work. It also runs weekly art classes and workshops.

The Welshpool Regeneration Plan has been prepared by Welshpool Town Council, working with Powys County Council, local businesses and other partners – including the Youth Council at the high School. The Plan – intended to help the town through specific projects including events, publicity, keeping services open, community engagement and consultation, community art projects – has helped Welshpool achieve a shop vacancy rate of 11%, compared with a Wales average of 17.1%.

It brings people of all ages together, getting the community to interact

It is an opportunity for local people to display their artwork in a beautiful setting at an affordable price

It enables people to participate in varied art workshops using high quality materials

It has brought a new group of people to this town-centre shopping centre.

Blaenau Ffestiniog is “the town that roofed the world” but the long decline of the slate industry has placed

economic and social strains on the town. The Regeneration Strategy involved a partnership working approach between:

Gwynedd Council Blaenau Ymlaen Community Group The Welsh Government Miller Research (UK) Ltd Howard Bowcott Ltd, Scheme Artist Capita Symonds Ltd Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering UK Ltd

The aim was to implement an innovative design and planning process to proclaim that Blaenau was open for business, showcasing its remarkable heritage but looking to the future. The result is high quality public realm that connects key entry points to a revitalised town centre.

Aberystwyth’s 150-year old market hall was, in 2011, in a good state of repair on the outside. But inside the building it was another story: fixtures and fittings were old and unattractive and in dire need of refreshment; footfall had steadily reduced; traders’ turnover was reducing. On-going consultations were held with the traders to discuss design options and to agree a “meanwhile” licence for those that wanted to operate from a vacant town-centre location whilst the refurbishments were carried out.

4CG (Cymdeithas Cynal a Chefnogi Cefn Gwlad) was originally established for the purpose of securing a town centre site for the people of the locality. Through a community share issue, the project raised over £300,000 from the support of over 700 people. The initial purpose was to offer cheap, short stay, town centre parking since the Council-run car parks in Cardigan are the most expensive in Ceredigion. The project has only ever received £2000 in grant income. Yet it has

generated – via a community share issue and then through reinvesting trading revenue from car parking and other asset development – over half a million for capital asset purchases, and ongoing revenue to use developing further projects to benefit the community.

Full summaries of the category winners can be viewed at:

www.towns.org.uk/Awards2013

Towns Alive Awards Action for Market Towns 5 Baxter Court Higher Baxter Street Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 1ES Telephone: 01284 756567