Hebden Bridge takes the lead in Great British High Street awards

Market Street in Hebden Bridge has been named as one of the country's best high streets by being shortlisted in the third annual Great British High Street competition.
Market Street, Hebden Bridge.Market Street, Hebden Bridge.
Market Street, Hebden Bridge.

And figures released today show that the town is currently in the lead in the Small Market Town category.

This year’s competition saw a record 900 entries across all 14 categories, including new categories for individuals and shops.

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Now the shortlist has been drawn up and the public has the chance to vote directly for their best-loved high street online.

If Market Street wins, it will get a share of prize pot worth £100,000, but also expert training from Google’s digital taskforce for shops, bars and restaurants and a trip to Twitter UK’s London office to further boost social media skills.

Eileen Kelly, secretary of the Hebden Bridge Business Forum, the organisation behind the town’s nomination for the award, said: “We’ve always known that Market Street is one of Britain’s best high streets, but now that this has been recognised nationally, it’s a great boost for the town.”

She added “Hebden Bridge’s recovery from the floods and the amazing resilience shown was an inspiring story and obviously impressed the judges.

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“If we win, the publicity for the town will be enormous. The support of the public at this point is vital, as the number of votes cast makes up 50 per cent of the judging process.”

High Streets Minister Andrew Percy said high streets like Market Street are the life and soul of towns, villages and cities across the country.

The Great British High Street Competition 2016 celebrates the work being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets. It is one of a number of initiatives to help champion high streets as the cornerstones of the community.

Alongside the public votes, shortlisted towns will also be inspected by the judging panel – made up of industry leaders from across retail, property and business – including British Land, the Post Office and Holland and Barratt.

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Between now and mid-November you can cast your vote as follows:

Through the website: visit thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/finalist-small-market-town

Tweet the following: #HebdenBridge is a finalist in the #GBHighSt awards. Please vote for them by visiting thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/finalist-small-market-town

You can vote once per day.