Welcome to the Action for Market Towns National Awards 2011


When the Decentralisation and Localism Bill was launched it was hailed as starting ‘a new era of people power’. But as the bill slowly passes through parliament the people are already leading the way, and this is particularly evident in the entrants to the 2011 National Market Town Awards.


Whilst the powers that will be introduced by the bill are not yet in their grasp, community organisations and town councils are already working with district and county councils to create a prosperous future for their locality. This publication introduces the zone winners of the Market Town Awards along with projects that the judges felt merited a commendation or a special mention. The winner and commended projects from the North, East, South East, West and Wales zones each come under one of four categories:


 Business and Economy  Environment and Culture


 Social and Community  Partnership and Strategic Working


Prosperous Places Strong town centres are often what make a place attractive for people seeking a place to live, visit, shop or do business in. Yet, many town centres are suffering, prompting the government to appoint TV’s ‘Queen of Shops’ Mary Portas to lead an independent review into the UK’s troubled high streets.


The review aims to identify what the government, local authorities and businesses can do to promote the development of more “prosperous and diverse high streets”. But


02 WELCOME


many award entrants are demonstrating that high streets can be successful places, with strong, local independent retailers. Initiatives have included improving shop fronts, town centre wifi, better signage and heritage trails.


Of course, it is not just a thriving high street that makes a prosperous town. Award entries have also included job clubs, business hubs and start-up support for market traders. There are also projects to tackle the problem of poor access to broadband technology, limited public transport and other infrastructure issues. And there have also been local shopping projects that try to retain consumers’ spending within the local community.


Community Led Planning The Decentralisation and Localism bill champions neighbourhood planning, but many small towns are already involved in an structured, inclusive approach called Community Led Planning.


This allows a local partnership of town council, businesses, voluntary and community organisations to systematically analyse their town’s strengths and weaknesses and to identify opportunities.


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