HUDDERSFIELD'S colour and vibrancy have been celebrated at an awards ceremony.
Following the town's embarrassing withdrawal from this year's Yorkshire in Bloom contest, the presentations were a chance to highlight its better points.
Entrants in the Huddersfield in Bloom and the Tidy Trader competitions packed into the Keys Cafe under the parish church yesterday for the prize-giving by the Huddersfield Town Centre Association.
The winner in the first Tidy Trader competition was the Shelter shop in High Street.
The Merrie England coffee shop on New Street won the Huddersfield in Bloom prize.
Twenty-two entries were received from around the town in the Tidy Trader class.
Town centre manager David Wiles said there were several hundred premises with frontages that could enter next year.
He said it was in everybody's interests to take part because it attracted shoppers - and cash.
"We are celebrating efforts made by local retailers and businesses," added Mr Wiles.
"It's a joint effort by everybody - the council and retailers - to keep the town looking good."
Page 2 - Winners
Mr Wiles said visitors and shoppers were attracted to clean, friendly shopping centres.
"Perception is incredibly important," he said.
Richard Ward, president of Huddersfield Civic Society, said: "The society's ethos is to make the town a better place to work, live and play. The floral aspect is very important."
Huddersfield in Bloom results:
Overall winner: Merrie England.
Hotels and licensed premises: 1 The Head of Steam pub, 2 Central Lodge, 3 Abrahams.
Large commercial premises: 1 The Piazza Centre, 2 Marks & Spencer, 3 Workman and Partners.
Small commercial premises: 1 Merrie England, 2 Norcliffe and Co, 3 Shaw and Hallas.
Special mention: TTW Retail.
Public Buildings: 1 Alfred Street car park, 2 Register Office, 3 Design and Property Service.
Neighbourhood: 1 St George's Square (Head of Steam, The George, Chadwick Lawrence solicitors, Bramleys estate agents, Yorkshire Building Society), 2 New North Parade (McNulty Funeral Services, Huddersfield Community Health Association, West Yorkshire Insurance Brokers, Manrochem, White House Centre, New North Parade Dental Practice, New North Parade Baptist Church, Bailey Smailes Heap Marshall solicitors), 3 Queen Street (Kirklees Unison union, Parker Bird solicitors, St John Ambulance).
Out of Town: 1 DJ Screen and Sons, 2 Croppers Arms, 3 Black Horse.
Tidy Trader:
Overall winner: Shelter shop.
Shop: 1 Shelter, 2= Strawberry Fair and Beaumont Opticians, 3 Card Warehouse.
Hotels, restaurants & licensed premises: 1 Market Tavern, 2 Huddersfield Hotel, 3 George Hotel.
Public buildings: Methodist Mission.
Related stories
