Huntingdonshire District Council is celebrating success after scooping three of the four 2006 Eastern Regional Awards from the Association for Town Centre Management at an event held at Hinchingbrooke Country Park.

Not only did the district’s teams win two of the three category prizes, they also won the overall Eastern Region Project of the Year Award which means they will now be entered into the national awards in March this year.

The first of the awards, Creating Quality Environments, was presented to Huntingdon Town Centre Partnership for their work with the district council on the environmental improvement scheme for St Benedict’s Court, Huntingdon. Emma Thornton, former town centre manager and Katy Sismore, the new town centre manager, accepted the award from Martin Blackwell  the Association of Town Centre Managers’ Membership Development Director who said the project “has significantly enhanced Huntingdon town centre”.  Emma Thornton, said: “This project shows that working together can have dramatic results. St Benedict’s Court now has a true sense of place”.

The second award, Enhancing the Retail Offer, was presented to Lisa Warman, Economic Development Officer at Huntingdonshire District Council, for the PRIDE retail training courses. The judges praised this training project which aimed to improve the customer shopping experience by providing training and support for businesses which was delivered at local venues at times to suit. The programme was deemed “excellent” by the 174 people that received training in the five different venues across the district.

This project was also named as the overall winner and Lisa Warman accepted the award alongside Sally Bonnett the Regeneration Officer from East Cambs District Council who worked with Lisa on the project.

Lisa Warman said “The project aimed to increase footfall in our local towns and encourage residents to shop locally.  We were successful because we had a clear focus and addressed the needs of the local retailers in a way that was accessible to them. I am grateful to the four town centre managers who were instrumental in getting people to attend the courses.  Our working partnerships are the way forward for sustainable schemes”.
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Councillor Andrew Hansard, whose executive councillor responsibilities include economic development, congratulated the team on their achievements. He said: “This is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the teams involved, and a shining example of the great things that can be achieved by partnership working.”