Richmond is best town in Britain - officially (From The Northern Echo)

Richmond is best town in Britain - officially

1:33pm Thursday 27th November 2008 in Search By Philippa Weighell

A NORTH Yorkshire town has beaten off competition from around the country to be named the best in Britain.

Richmond won the Great Town Award at the annual Urbanism Awards, organised by the think tank Academy of Urbanism.

Judges praised Richmond for its character, heritage and sustainability, describing it as a prime example of “a place looking after itself.”

Town mayor Coun Judith Steggles said: “To be shortlisted is fantastic, but to win is just absolutely splendid.

“We are over the moon.”

The winners, judged by 100 industry-leading architects and designers, were announced at a ceremony at St George’s Hall, Liverpool.

Bristol was named City of the Year, whilst the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham won the Great Neighbourhood award.

Frank McDonald, one of the panel that assessed the Great Town finalists, said: “Richmond is one of the best examples of the successful Market Towns Initiative led by the Countryside Agency and Yorkshire Forward.

“The overall strategy is heritage-led, even to the extent of planning to fell over-mature trees to improve the settings of historic buildings, such as the parish church, and reveal once again some of the views of Richmond painted by Turner in the early 19th Century.”

John Thompson, chairman of the Academy of Urbanism, added: “Richmond is an example of a place looking after itself.

“It is in a challenging - almost detached - location on the edge of the Dales, but it is a very self-sufficient town with a strong community.”

Coun Steggles said: “When you think of all the towns in the UK and Ireland it’s fantastic that we managed to come out on top.

“Richmond is a fantastic place and it deserves this award. Everyone who lives here should be very proud indeed.”

Colin Grant, Richmond town manager, said: “Richmond has been described in the past as a town of superlatives. We have one of the oldest castles which overlooks one of the fastest rivers, with one of the largest market places in Europe and the oldest working theatre in the UK.

“Everyone who lives in Richmond knows what a fantastic place it is, and its wonderful to have that recognised.”

Praise for Richmond from judges at the Academy of Urbanism included: -The town’s proactive and successful drive to invigorate the local economy - particularly tourism - following the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 -A council-led policy to encourage residents to live in flats above shops in the town -The market place -The strategy to restore historic views in the town -The regular markets -Self sufficiency