SEVEN UK TOWNS AND CITIES SHORTLISTED FOR TOWN CENTRE ENVIRONMENT AWARDS

Seven UK towns and cities have been shortlisted as finalists for the British Council of Shopping Centres town centre environment awards.

Meltham (W. Yorks), Port Talbot, St Anne's on Sea, West Bridgford (Nottingham), Whitehaven, Fakenham and Doncaster are being visited by the BCSC town centre environment judges this week.

The towns are in line for awards in one of four categories: overall award, design award, transport & accessibility award and community award.

The BCSC conference is expected to attract more than 1,300 senior executives from the retail and retail property sectors to discuss and debate business under the conference banner 'Going to Town'. The conference and retail showcase take place in Birmingham from November 7-9.

The awards, now in their 11th year, highlight and encourage the efforts being made by towns and cities across the UK to enhance the quality of their central areas: focusing on providing an attractive and safe environment for shoppers backed up by improved accessibility and transport infrastructure. Last year's winners included

Sunderland, Hamilton, Bournemouth and Murton (Co. Durham

The BCSC judging panel embraces a cross-section of property specialists including representatives from the retailer, investor, developer, consultant and local authority sectors. The awards focus on improvements ranging from city/community-wide schemes to local/site-specific projects.

Ian Mashiter, chairman of the BCSC town centre environment awards jury:

'Towns and cities have to compete with customers just as retailers do. We have a diverse group on the shortlist this year, but the common factor is the great work they are doing to make their 'offer' attractive to maintain and improve their competitive position.'