Cash award for town’s trade-boosting efforts

Local Growth Minister Mark Prisk said that Rotherham, which will receive £268,000 from the High Street Renewal Award, is an “example to communities across the country.”

Judged by a panel of experts including Martin Blackwell from the Association of Town and City Management and Andy Godfrey from Alliance Boots, the seven towns were chosen for the “innovative ideas they implemented, the results they achieved and their ability to promote good practice.”

A Government spokesman said: “Rotherham’s award of £268,058 is recognition of their focusing their strategy on creating a differentiated shopping offer with independent businesses filling their empty premises, whilst also increasing consumer satisfaction and driving footfall.”

The other six areas to receive a share of the £1m are Herne Hill in London; Northam Road in Southampton; Altrincham; Ipswich; Market Rasen and Gloucester.

Mr Prisk said: “The High Street Renewal Award has encouraged towns to ‘up their game’ and put their best ideas to work in order to save their high streets, and we were delighted to see the high level of applications from all over the country.

“These are just seven of the many towns that came forward, and they are a shining example of what can be achieved. 

“I would like to congratulate them for the innovative and interesting ways in which they have given their high street a new lease of life.”

He added: “It is in everyone’s interests to see our town centres thrive, and I want people across the country to take inspiration from these towns and look at what can be done when communities work together.”

Rotherham was previously given a £100,000 Government grant to help its shopkeepers in the wake of a visit by “retail guru” Mary Portas. Just 26 towns in the UK received such a grant.

Coun Roger Stone, Rotherham Council’s leader, said: “Rotherham has been a beacon of business growth for the past few years, something that Mary Portas herself noted when she visited us in 2011.”