The national shortlist putting Scarborough in the spotlight
Scarborough has been shortlisted in a national competition celebrating towns that are helping high streets and local communities thrive.
The Yorkshire coast town has been shortlisted in the High Street Revival category of the fourth annual Let’s Celebrate Towns awards, organised by Visa and Nationwide.
The initiative recognises towns that are adapting to change, supporting local businesses and creating new growth opportunities.
Scarborough joins Stockton-on-Tees, Bo’ness, Penzance, Falkirk, Watford and Southport on the shortlist for the High Street Revival category.
Organisers said this year’s competition attracted entries from more than 350 towns across over 280 parliamentary constituencies, with more than 30 towns making the final shortlist across five categories.
Five winners will be announced at a ceremony in the House of Commons in December, with each receiving £20,000 towards a community project.
The recognition comes at a time of significant change for Scarborough town centre.
Last week, regional and local leaders agreed an £18.5 million public funding package to support plans to transform the former Brunswick Centre into SQ1, a new retail, leisure and cinema destination featuring a six-screen cinema, family leisure attraction, restaurants and major retail units.
The scheme is being promoted as a key part of wider regeneration plans for the town centre.
However, the shortlisting also comes against a backdrop of high-profile retail challenges.
TG Jones is due to close its Scarborough store and in-store Post Office, resulting in job losses, while uncertainty remains over the future of the town’s Poundland branch and the jobs associated with it.
The town has also lost a number of other national retailers in recent years, prompting debate about the future of the high street.
Rob Cameron, group country manager for Visa UK & Ireland, said there was “real energy and ambition” in towns across the country.
“We have been positively overwhelmed by the response to Let’s Celebrate Towns this year, with record entries from every corner of the UK,” he added.
Mandy Beech, group director of retail services at Nationwide, said thriving high streets were built by local people bringing communities together: “As part of our Branch Promise, we’re committed to high streets for the long term, and our Towns Fund partnership with Visa is about backing the people making a real difference.
“With Government focus on high streets growing, now is the moment to learn from them and build on their success.”
The winners of the competition will be announced in December.