BRISTOL IS AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS PURPLE FLAG!
Monday, 15th November 2010
Bristol City Centre is one of the first UK cities to be awarded the prestigious national Purple Flag as a well-managed and vibrant place to visit and enjoy. The award announced last night (03/11) followed a joint bid by Bristol City Council, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Destination Bristol. Applying for the award is part of wider work to show people that the city is becoming safer, cleaner and a more pleasant place to be in the evenings and at night.
“Just as the Blue Flag is an indicator of a good beach, the Purple Flag indicates a centre that is vibrant and a pleasant place to be. We are delighted to have won the award and it will bring positive publicity for our city centre and allow us to build on our success”, said John Hirst, Operations Director for Destination Bristol.
The Purple Flag Award scheme is run awarded by the Association of Town Centre Managers*. A team of experts recently visited the city centre from 1700 through the night until 0300 to asses a range of criteria including personal safety, cleanliness, transport, attractiveness and appeal, arts and cultural on offer, how welcoming it felt, as well as the strength of partnership working.
The judges felt that Bristol City Centre was outstanding in particular for:.
- The working partnership between Bristol City Council, the Police, other authorities, Destination Bristol, and key members of commerce.
- The commitment to arts and culture, not only the entertainment provided but also in encouraging local art projects and individuals to showcase their work.
- The development of the WatershedWaterfront by the Watershed, which they felt, was exemplary returning this critical area of the Waterfront to diverse use.
Bristol City Council Cabinet Member for Targeted Improvement, Cllr Gary Hopkins, said, “The judges recognised Bristol has an attractive, vibrant and well -managed city centre. The award clearly demonstrates to visitors that our city centre offers a high standard and wide choice of entertainment with the support of well co-ordinated services for a welcoming night out”.
“One of several factors the judges singled out for praise is the strong partnership highly successful working partnership between the Council, police, Destination Bristol, and key members of the commercial sector. Jointly making this successful bid is a prime example of this partnership and I would like to thank everyone in the private and public sector who helped us secure this accolade. We want to build on this to improve the confidence of residents and visitors”.
Bristol’s application for the Purple Flag stressed the wide choice of entertainment and leisure attractions and the huge range of restaurants, hotels, bars and clubs. Included in the bid too are the numerous festivals, prestigious theatres, museums, galleries and concert halls.
The Safer Bristol partners, including the council, police, fire service, the NHS and Destination Bristol have introduced a series of measures to ensure the public find the centre a night a pleasant and safe place to be and to stamp out unacceptable behaviour
“ Violent crime is falling in the city centre and we are working hard to continue that reduction " said Inspector Keith Rundle Neighbourhood Inspector, "This and other activities is a practical way to help both residents and visitors to the centre to feel and be safe - Purple Flag is recognition for the all the hard work done by police and council
agencies in the city centre".
