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| High Streets: Towns share £1m award for revival schemes | High Streets: Towns share £1m award for revival schemes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Seven communities in England are to share £1m of government cash for injecting life into their High Streets. | Seven communities in England are to share £1m of government cash for injecting life into their High Streets. |
| It is the latest in a series of initiatives in the wake of retail guru Mary Portas's review into how to rejuvenate struggling town centres. | It is the latest in a series of initiatives in the wake of retail guru Mary Portas's review into how to rejuvenate struggling town centres. |
| Rotherham won the top award, £268,058, for bringing in independent shops. | Rotherham won the top award, £268,058, for bringing in independent shops. |
| Other awards given by a panel of business groups went to Ipswich, Market Rasen, Gloucester, Altrincham, Herne Hill in south London, and Southampton. | |
| Local Growth Minister Mark Prisk said the seven areas were a "shining example" to communities across the country. | |
| "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," he said. | "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," he said. |
| The High Street Renewal Awards aimed to recognise areas "already delivering the most effective and innovative plans to bring their town centres back to life". | The High Street Renewal Awards aimed to recognise areas "already delivering the most effective and innovative plans to bring their town centres back to life". |
| The judging panel visited the towns and cities applying for the award to evaluate their work. | The judging panel visited the towns and cities applying for the award to evaluate their work. |
| It gave: | It gave: |
| Rotherham Town Centre is basing its strategy on the idea that independent shops "help differentiate the town centre offer from that of its nearest competitors". It is said to have seen a 12% increase in customers last year. | Rotherham Town Centre is basing its strategy on the idea that independent shops "help differentiate the town centre offer from that of its nearest competitors". It is said to have seen a 12% increase in customers last year. |
| Last year, some 27 areas including Margate, Croydon and Morecambe received funding and advice from retail experts as part of the government initiative to revitalise the High Street. | Last year, some 27 areas including Margate, Croydon and Morecambe received funding and advice from retail experts as part of the government initiative to revitalise the High Street. |