Teddington nominated for high street of the year
The Telegraph’s year-long “Reinventing the High Street” campaign aims to put the heart back in our traditional high streets and regenerate our historic shopping communities for future generations. Readers have been nominating their own personal favourites from across the UK and Teddington has made the short list of 10 potential high streets of the year!
The town has already been evaluated in person and information has been requested that will help the judges score against the other contenders. Judging categories include: mixture of chains / indies (a good mix is best), standard of buildings, empty shop rate, traffic & parking, events held to entice visitors, cleanliness & local groups that support the high street.
For Teddington to make the top ten and help get the town more on the destination map is fantastic news, but to win would be even better! The final decision will be made on Thursday November 28th (Lights-Up day) and the judges will be chaired by high street minister Brandon Lewis MP. An article about the finalists including Teddington will be in next Saturdays Telegraph (23rd November).
It’s also great news that at least two Totally Locally are in the top ten. Teddington joins Leek in the finals (already enjoying the benefits of Totally Locally) and the campaign has certainly been a catalyst to getting locals to support their local high street and appreciate what we have before it’s lost.
A hearty big thank you to everyone that voted for Teddington.
[Update 23/11/2013] The list of the top ten finalists has been published (the champion to be hand-picked by Mary Portas), along with the Telegraph’s 12 point high street manifesto in an open letter to Eric Pickles.
Finalists:
Bridport, Dorset
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Deal, Kent
Leek, Staffs
Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Mill Road, Cambridge
Ramsbottom, Lancs
Sherborne, Dorset
Teddington, Middlesex
Yarm, Teesside
[Update 02/12/2013] The judges’ verdict will be announced in the Saturday 4th January 2014 edition of the Telegraph.
[Update 04/01/2014] The winner of high street of the year has been announced as Deal in Kent.
Isn’t it time to change the DULL Christmas decorations??? Every year we get ‘red & green traffic lights’ around the lamp posts..how about some pretty decs across the streets and some gold, & silver for a change!! NO IMAGINATION here.
I agree with Pippa about the lights. There’s some beautiful architecture above the shopfronts and white or gold light would enhance it, whereas the big red and green bulbs hide it and draw attention away from the lovely window displays.