Great British High Street judges shown what town has to offer

TAMWORTH came under the spotlight this week when it was visited by judges searching for Britain’s best town centre in the Great British High Street competition.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association and member of the Future High Streets Forum judging panel, was shown some of what Tamworth has to offer during the timed two-hour visit on Wednesday (November 4).

She was accompanied by Phillip Dunkley from the Department for Communities and Local Government – which is organising the nationwide competition – on a whistle stop tour of the town centre, meeting businesses, dignitaries and a few colourful characters along the way.

Highlights of the tour included a walk across Ladybridge to demonstrate the work being done as part of the Gateways project to link the town centre with Ventura Park, an exhibition of the multi-million pound Creative Quarter regeneration plans, an overview of the I Am Tamworth project to encourage people to participate in the arts and a flavour of the huge programme of free outdoor events.

The duo met some of the creative businesses located in Created in Tamworth in Market Street, which provides a stepping stone for local people to launch their own enterprises, as well as visiting Fergus and Fogg’s independent toy store, successful barber shop business Something For The Weekend and the newly opened Tudor House where they viewed artwork by Sue Verity and were treated to a special Great British High Street cake made by Kim Healy.

Some of the town’s more colourful characters came out in the form of Bibbledy Bob the town’s Peeler policeman, chasing local villain Mark Harper, in their refurbished bumper cars and stilt walker Mark Bant with his cuddly animal friends.

The visit ended with lunch at family-run Christopher’s Restaurant where Brigid and Phillip were welcomed by councillors, the Mayor of Tamworth Cllr Maureen Gant and more local business representatives, including Ankerside Shopping Centre deputy manager Jeff Wigley, Town Team chairman Samantha Panton and Tom Robinson of TR Prints who presented the judges with their very own specially-designed Tamworth mugs.

Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Economy, Cllr Steve Claymore, said: “The visit went really well. The judges were bombarded with information during their two-hour tour about all of Tamworth’s great features, as well as the variety of partnerships and initiatives which are always running in the background to promote business, boost trade and increase footfall in the town centre.

“I hope Brigid and Phillip were impressed with what they saw and I am happy that we really pulled out all the stops to make the case for Tamworth. But it’s not time to sit back and relax yet – people have until November 13 to cast their votes for Tamworth online at www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk.”

Brigid will now feed her findings back to fellow members of the judging panel and their decision will account for 50 per cent of the overall result, with the online public vote making up the other half.

A total of 21 towns, communities and high streets have been shortlisted across seven categories of the competition – out of a record 230 entrants. Tamworth is vying for the ‘town centre’ accolade alongside Rotherham and Altrincham and at last count was in second place in the voting.

With over a week left to go, it is still all to play for and residents, shoppers and visitors are urged to go online and vote for Tamworth at www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk. Votes can be cast every day. It takes just seconds and there is no registration or form filling required.

Winners in each of the seven categories get a share of a prize pot worth £80,000 which includes expert training and tailor-made tips from Google’s training taskforce for 100 of their shops, bars and restaurants.

The Great British High Street Competition is sponsored by Boots, Costa, Post Office, Marks & Spencer and Tesco and is now in its second year.