February 2012

MPs from across England and Wales joined Action for Market Towns’ chief executive, policy manager and board members, and several Award-winning member towns, at a Parliamentary reception this week to debate the future for small towns – where over 1/5th of the the population live.

AMT members praised

Jonathan Djanogly, MP for Huntingdon, hosted the reception, and in his opening speech referred to AMT members who have used their town centre partnerships to secure prosperous futures, seize opportunities, tackle neglect and revitalise their town centres. Jonathan highlighted particularly successful initiatives in Mold, Middlewich, St Ives and Huntingdon, all of which have previously won Action for Market Towns Awards.

Chris Wade, AMT’s Chief Executive, said: “there is a long tradition of self-reliance and enterprise in our isolated small towns with often effective leadership shown by town councils, community partnerships and business associations.

“After a busy year of contributing positively to policy development, we look forward to sharing good practice and supporting towns to make the most of the policy agenda. We are doing this by supporting town teams; neighbourhood planning, measuring economic performance and helping towns see themselves as ‘department stores’ that offer something more that the bland shopping experience of out-of-town shopping malls. We are even investing in developing an imaginative town-wide loyalty card that can attract new customers and capture a percentage of spend to re-invest in improving and promoting town centres.”

The reception also marked the formal launch of the Action for Market Towns Awards 2012 – Britain’s top awards for town community projects.

Photograph shows Alison Eardley, AMT Policy Manager, and David Hanson, MP for Delyn (centre),  joined by the Mayor (Cllr Ray Dodd – left in photo) and Town Centre Manager (David Hill – right in photo) of Mold at AMT’s parliamentary reception.

What next?

• Read about the successful town centre initiatives highlighted at the reception – AMT Award winners Mold, Middlewich, St Ives and Huntingdon
• Learn about My Card – the town-wide loyalty card Chris Wade mentioned
• Access resources and AMT’s expertise for neighbourhood planning and community led plans
• Read Jonathan Djanogly’s and Chris Wade’s speeches in full
• Enter the Action for Market Towns Awards 2012
• Look at our comments about MPs’ recent debate on high streets
• Come to an AMT event about helping your town centre to thrive, localism and neighbourhood planning, or marketing your town

2 day autumn event will bring over £100,000 to local economy

National charity Action for Market Towns (AMT) today announced Kendal as the location for its 2012 annual conference after the Cumbria town beat impressive bids from towns across the country wanting to host the event.

The charity expects over 200 delegates representing market and small towns from all over the UK to attend the convention, taking place on the 18^th and 19^th of October in Kendal’s Town Hall.

Delegates will exchange ideas, discuss Government policy – and how it affects them – and learn from practical workshops covering how to improve their towns.

Speakers and workshop leaders from all over the UK – including policymakers and other key national figures – will share their advice; and study tours of Kendal will showcase some of its own best practice and innovative ideas which are helping the town to thrive.

Alongside the convention AMT will announce the winners of the 2012 Action for Market Towns National Awards – Britain’s top award for community projects in small towns and villages.

2011’s convention, in Ludlow, brought over £100,000 of additional spending to the town as well as widespread TV, radio and newspaper coverage.  AMT expect record numbers for 2012.

Chris Wade, AMT’s Chief Executive, said:

“We all know that now is a critical time for small towns, market towns, and town centres.  One in five people in the UK live in or around small towns; and small towns are facing many challenges. But it’s not all gloom and doom. Thousands of projects have been developed through local initiative, most often led by town partnerships of businesses, community organisations, local councils and individual volunteers. And in AMT towns have a champion – sharing innovative ideas and case studies of what towns can do to survive and to thrive, helping them navigate the latest government policies.

“Our national convention is a key date for representatives from towns all over the UK – they come along to learn about new, practical solutions to challenges, to debate, to share ideas, and to network. And if they can’t attend they follow the action through AMT’s online coverage and news coverage – 2011’s event attracted extensive radio, TV and newspaper attention.

“It’s critical therefore that AMT chooses a host town that is itself exemplary and we are delighted to announce that Kendal is the host for the 2012 convention. Kendal matches AMT’s vision of a ‘Town Alive’ and put in an incredibly impressive bid to stage the event. We look forward to working with Kendal Town Council, South Lakeland District Council and Kendal Futures to make this year’s event the biggest and best ever.”

The Convention will be supported by Kendal Town Council, South Lakeland District Council and Kendal Futures.

Council Leader Brendan Jameson said:

“SLDC is delighted to support this event.  Kendal has a mix of heritage, culture and festivals, a diverse shopping experience and a strong education offer with Kendal College, making it an ideal place for other town leaders to explore and engage with.”

Kendal Futures worked closely with Kendal Town Council, South Lakeland District Council and Kendal College to secure the event.

Town Councillor Austen Robinson, who sits on the Kendal Futures Board, said:

“Kendal Town Council is looking forward to welcoming AMT to Kendal.  We may be well known for our Mint Cake, but this is a great opportunity to put us on the national map and show that there’s much more to this thriving market town.  Our approach to partnership working is helping to address successfully the challenges facing us today.”

ENDS

Chris Wade, Chief Executive of Action for Market Towns, is available for interview.

Press enquiries: Jamie Veitch, 07904 272 200.

Notes to editors:

Action for Market Towns

1. Action for Market Towns (AMT) is a national charity committed to the vitality and viability of our small towns. www.towns.org.uk
2. It has a national network of members and works with Town Councils, Community and town partnerships, emerging Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Authorities, and independent  / selected partner businesses
3. It offers training, consultancy, national advocacy and a range of other services to more than 400 members
4. For press enquiries please contact Jamie Veitch on 07904 272 200 or email news@towns.org.uk

Kendal Futures

1. Kendal Futures is the regeneration partnership for Kendal. It has a board consisting of local representatives from both the public and private sector and has been set up to deliver key projects in the town.
2. Kendal Futures has a project co-ordinator working closely with the board members to spearhead a range of projects aimed at improving the economic wellbeing of the town.
3. For more information about Kendal Futures contact: Paula Scott, Project Coordinator, Kendal Futures on 07585 665636 or p.scott@southlakeland.gov.uk

What next?

• Read about the 2011 Convention – and access speakers’ notes and filmed interviews
• Enter the 2012 AMT Awards
• Full programme and booking information for the Convention will be announced in Spring.

Action for Market Towns confirms support of Independent Retailer Month UK

Independent Retailer Month UK – a global “shop local” campaign running throughout July – today secured the support of a strategic partner to help engage small and market towns in the campaign. Leading national charity Action for Market Towns (AMT) announced its support of Independent Retailer Month and will encourage its members to participate fully in Campaign activity.

AMT has a national network of members including town partnerships, parish councils, local authorities, and partner businesses. By giving their support to Independent Retailer Month AMT intend to encourage and engage retail communities in small and market towns in efforts to rejuvenate these struggling economies.

Clare Rayner, The Retail Champion, who is the official lead partner for Independent Retailer Month in the UK, said “We are delighted to welcome AMT as an official supporting partner of Independent Retailer Month 2012. By engaging their network of members in small and market towns throughout the UK, who work with retailers in their own towns, we’ll encourage their active participation in activities throughout July. With a whole month dedicated to the campaign we can begin to create new shopping habits, retaining consumer spending in our high streets for the benefit of our local communities.”

Chris Wade, Chief Executive of AMT said, “We believe that independent retailers should be at the heart of a vibrant town centre and are vital to maintaining the distinctiveness and variety of the nation’s market towns.  We are delighted to be part of Independent Retailer Month as a way of getting people to shop local.”

ABOUT INDEPENDENT RETAILER MONTH UK

Independent Retailer Month is a global “Shop Local” campaign that runs throughout July. The campaign highlights the important role smaller, local, independent retailers play in the communities they serve, the local economy they contribute to, and in the retail sector as a whole. Co-founded in the USA by Kerry Bannigan, CEO Nolcha Fashion Week, and Tom Shay, principal of Profits Plus, Independent Retailer Month UK is led by Clare Rayner, The Retail Champion.

Independent Retailer Month

www.independentretailermonth.co.uk

www.facebook.com/IndependentRetailerMonthUK

www.twitter.com/IndieRetailUK

Press enquiries: Jamie Veitch, 07904 272 200.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Action for Market Towns (AMT) is a national charity committed to the vitality and viability of our small towns.
2. It has a national network of members and works with Town Councils, Community and town partnerships, emerging Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Authorities, and independent  / selected partner businesses.
3. It offers training, consultancy, national advocacy and a range of other services to more than 400 members.
4. For press enquiries please contact Jamie Veitch on 07904 272 200 or email news@towns.org.uk

MPs debate findings of Portas Review on future of high street

National small towns charity calls on MPs to consider role of high street in ‘widest sense’

Action for Market Towns – the national charity representing market and small towns across the UK – welcomes today’s Parliamentary debate on the future of the high street and town centres and the findings of the Portas review.

The charity issued a briefing note for MPs last week, showcasing progress already made against many of the review’s recommendations.

Alison Eardley, Policy Manager for Action for Market Towns, said:

“Action for Market Towns has welcomed the Portas Review which has served to bring the changing role of high streets across the country to the attention of all.  This is especially important at a time when retailers – both independents and national chains – continue to struggle.  The recommendations proposed by the Review make much sense and there is a range of good work that is already taking place across the country that we’d encourage the Government to explore when considering its response.

“We would also urge the Government to remember that the future of the high street goes beyond retail and this review presents an opportunity to explore how a range of uses, for example health, education and learning, and housing, might have a role in healthy high streets – as demonstrated by so many of our member towns.

“Given the plethora of Government departments and their different interests and levels of involvement in the high street, the challenge will be for an integrated policy on high street development to be adopted which places local people and businesses at the core.”

The briefing note is available at http://towns.org.uk/2012/01/13/portas-review-amt-briefing-note-for-debate-about-the-future-of-town-centres-and-the-high-street/

Press enquiries: Jamie Veitch, 07904 272 200.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Action for Market Towns (AMT) is a national charity committed to the vitality and viability of our small towns.
2. It has a national network of members and works with Town Councils, Community and town partnerships, emerging Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Authorities, and independent  / selected partner businesses.
3. AMT worked with a wider network of organisations to ensure that the Portas review was informed by imaginative ideas and practical solutions. It welcomed the Review’s recommendations (http://towns.org.uk/2011/12/13/amt-response-to-the-portas-review-of-the-future-of-the-high-street/ )
4. It offers training, consultancy, national advocacy and a range of other services to more than 400 members.
5. For press enquiries please contact Jamie Veitch on 07904 272 200 or email news@towns.org.uk