Newbury in running for best High Street award

NEWBURY is in the running to win up to £10,000 in prize money as part of a nationwide search for Britain’s best high streets.

Although there is still a month to go until applications close, Northbrook Street is one of the first retail areas off the starting block to apply for the town centre category.

Now in its third year, the competition celebrates the work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets.

Alongside the cash prize, internet search engine Google has joined the quest and is offering all category winners a visit from The Digital Garage on Tour – a skills training workshop for retailers and small businesses.

New for this year is a hunt for individuals eligible to win a ‘high street hero’, awarded to those who are making a difference to their local community.

The managing director of Newbury Business Improvement District (BID), Russell Downing, said: “There’s a renewed buzz in our town centre and, fingers crossed, our entry will be successful so Newbury will get its name recognised as a great place to live, shop and work.”

High streets minister Andrew Percy said: “Last year’s competition was a massive success, helping to showcase the very best high streets across the country, with thousands of votes cast and winning high streets reporting an increase in shoppers.

“Our local high streets remain the life and soul of towns, villages and cities across the country and I’d encourage as many of them as possible to enter this year’s competition.”

The top three shortlisted will be announced in October. 

They will then go through to a public online vote and be visited by the Future High Streets Forum judging panel, made up of industry leaders from across retail, property and business.

The Great British High Street competition is run by the Department for Communities and Local Government and is being sponsored by Boots, the British Council of Shopping Centres, Ellandi, Holland and Barratt, Marks and Spencer, the Post Office and Wilko.

The deadline for entries is Friday, September 9, and details about the competition can be found at www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk

The public can support their local area on twitter by following @TheGBHighSt or using the hashtag #GBHighS