The often windswept West Kilbride has now also beaten off hundreds of communities to be named Britain’s best village high street.
The North Ayrshire community battoned down the hatches and took the challenge to Brigg, North Lincolnshire, and Twyford, Berkshire, to be awarded the accolade at a ceremony at Admiralty House in London earlier today.
A record number of 230 high streets entered and nearly 200,000 votes were cast across the seven categories.
This year the public got the chance to vote for the first time, with a visit by an expert judge from the Future High Streets Forum.
As a category winner of the Great British High Street Awards 2015, West Kilbride will now receive a share of a prize pot worth £80,000 – alongside expert training and tailor-made tips from Google’s training taskforce for one hundred shops, bars and restaurants.
West Kilbride: Beach is almost a few steps away from high street
Kay Hall, vice chairperson, West Kilbride Community Initiative said: "Winning the city Great British High Street Award is a fantastic achievement.
"Over the past few years we’ve tried our best to adapt to the way people’s lives have been changing.
“That’s why we’re so pleased that the judges and the people of West Kilbride have recognised all that we’ve done to improve our high street and make sure it stays at the heart of our community for years to come.
“We’re going to use this win as a springboard to do even more. Thank you every one that voted – we’re thrilled.”
West Kilbride was named winner of the village category because of the transition made from a traditional holiday centre struggling to keep businesses afloat into a vibrant craft centre with a clear and visible, unique selling point.
West Kilbride Community Initiative Limited has also purchased an old quarry and transformed it into quiet seated area with themed gardens for different parts of the community.
High Streets Minister Marcus Jones said: "The excitement this competition has generated with a huge level of interest from the public vote is proof that high streets are the life and soul of towns, villages and cities across the country.
“Over the last year investment in property is up 30 per cent, town centre vacancy rates have fallen to under 10 per cent and retail sales have increased for the longest period on record – long may it continue.
“West Kilbride deserves the very highest praise for being a category winner in this year’s Great British High Street Awards.
“Their innovative ideas and hard work on the ground really made them stand out and we’ll be sharing their excellent example to help others learn from their success.”
The Great British High Street Awards 2015 is run by the Department for Communities and Local Government and sponsored by a number of retailers.
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