News release: 14 September 2011
Left to right: Trevor Merryfield John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) Ltd, Gillian Reid St Albans City and District Council, Nick Sherriff St Albans City and District Council, ard Richard Shwe St Albans City and District Council, David White Anglia in Bloom, Nigel Bloxham Anglia in Bloom.
St Albans City and District Council entered the Anglia in Bloom Environmental Campaign Awards on behalf of the city for the first time in ten years and succeeded in scooping not one but three awards, as well as being nominated for an additional three categories.
Left to right: Nigel Bloxham Anglia in Bloom, David White Anglia in Bloom, Madeleine Sansom Chair of Friends of Verulamium Park, Dan Flitton St Albans City and District Council, Gillian Reid St Albans City and District Council.
St Albans city was given the Gold Award for the Best City*, a Special Award for the “Best New Entry” and also for the Municipal Gardens under the category of “Best Local Authority Floral Display.” The Municipal Gardens which are located next to the Council offices in Charter Close, are owned by the District Council and maintained on the Council’s behalf by John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) Ltd who maintain the parks and green spaces and Enterprise who ensure the streets and surrounding areas are kept clean.
The city was also shortlisted for:
• St Michael’s Manor Hotel under the category “Best Industrial / Commercial Area”
• Verulamium Park under the category “ Best Public Open Space” and
• Earthworks under the category “Best Garden For Special Needs”
In addition, Redbourn received a Silver Gilt Award in the Small Town* category and Redbourn’s St Luke’s School was shortlisted for the “Best Young Persons’ Project “.
The Mayor, Cllr Aislinn Lee, Mayoress Rose Bennett and Cllr Annie Brewster, representing the District Council’s Cabinet, plus officers, attended this year’s prestigious awards ceremony at Charter Hall, in Colchester, Essex on Tuesday 13th September. Approximately 400 people attended the event from the Anglia in Bloom 6 counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Mayor, Cllr Aislinn Lee said: “This was an exceptional day for St Albans. I kept being called to the stage time and time again to receive awards for our city. It was brilliant! I know that there was a tremendous amount of time and effort put into making this a success story, firstly the preparation for these awards and then setting out the plan. So whilst celebrating our success I would like to thank all those involved with this strategy, which enabled us to win so many awards, not least, the Gold award for Best City. ”
Cllr Daniel Chichester-Miles, Portfolio Holder for Environmental commented: “This is fantastic news and I would like to thank our parks and green spaces team and officers in Community Services who have worked so hard for these well deserved awards. St Albans is a city of which Hertfordshire can be proud.
Cllr Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism commented: “This event also highlights some of the hidden gems we have in the city, which many people may be unaware of. We all know what a wonderful city we have, but it is good to have the recognition from an independent body and for the news to be spread more widely.”
George Dawson, Chair of Judges said: “A community is a winner as soon as it enters into the campaign……The campaign is not only about flowers. Many different categories are looked at such as environmental quality, community involvement, biodiversity and the involvement of young people to name but a few. Community involvement seems to be the key to success, when everyone is involved the rewards are tremendous.”
Member contact:
Cllr Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism*
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 760060 Mob: 07956 220264
Cllr Daniel Chichester-Miles, Portfolio Holder for Environmental
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01582 766479 Mobile: 07701099503
Cllr Aislinn Lee, The Right Worshipful the Mayor of St Albans City & District.
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde, the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544 E-mail: mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the press:
Davina Mansell, Information and Communication Officer
Tel: 01727 819316. E-mail: davina.mansell@stalbans.gov.uk
St Albans City and District Council
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Notes:
* Best City (100,001 – 200,000 residents)
** Small Town (2,501 – 6,000 residents). Redbourn’s award was collected by Redbourn Parish Councillor Pat Schofield, Mike Thain representing Redbourn in Bloom and Tony Bull Chair of Redbourn in Bloom.
To find out more about Anglia in Bloom visit their website: www.angliainbloom.co.uk.