18 September 2018

Bromsgrove misses out on being short-listed for the 2018 High Street of the Year

BROMSGROVE High Street has missed out on being short-listed for the 2018 Great British High Street of the year but the district councillor responsible for the town centre says there is still plenty to be proud about.

Coun Karen May, whose portfolio covers economic development, said: “I still believe it was a good idea to raise the profile of Bromsgrove so well done to everyone concerned.

“While we didn’t make the cut this time around we hold our head up high and continue moving Bromsgrove in the right direction.”

It was in June when the council’s centres manager Cheryl Walsh approached local businesses to gauge interest in entering the competition and most people thought it was a good idea.

With the backing of MP Sajid Javid, who described Bromsgrove town centre as a place that ‘set the gold standard for other towns and cities’, the bid was launched, complete with a promotional video extolling the High Street’s virtues.

It was mentioned Bromsgrove had recently attracted a new selection of independent traders who had chosen the town as the place for their businesses.

But it was not meant to be this year as Bromsgrove High Street missed out on being one of the 38 shortlisted high streets from England, Scotland and Wales.

Author and TV presenter Simon Reeve who is a judge for the Great British High Street Awards 2018, paid tribute to every town and city which entered.

He said: “I’ve spent the last couple of months visiting independent high street retailers across the UK and I’ve been blown away by the passion and commitment shown by shopkeepers across Britain.”

The winning entries for both the Champion and Rising Star categories will be announced on 15 November 2018 at an awards ceremony in London.

* WHAT do you think should be done to improve Bromsgrove High Street? Is there anything that is not being done at the moment which you feel could enhance the area and the experience for shoppers? Email your views to editor@bromsgrovestandard.co.uk

Reprinted by kind permission of The Bromsgrove Standard