Doncaster street in line for top national award and £10k prize fund

A Doncaster street bustling with independent businesses is in the running to be named one of Britain's best high streets and win up to £10, 000.
Torrs English Deli, on Printing Office Street.  Picture: Marie Caley DONC-D2558MCTorrs English Deli, on Printing Office Street.  Picture: Marie Caley DONC-D2558MC
Torrs English Deli, on Printing Office Street. Picture: Marie Caley DONC-D2558MC

Businesses on Printing Office Street have put their road forward for the ‘Best Town Centre High Street’ category in the Great British High Street competition.

Although there is still a month to go until applications close, Doncaster is one of the first areas off the starting block to apply for the town centre category.

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Printing Office Street is among the first 15 applicants in the national celebration of individual communities’ efforts to revitalise their local areas.

Leigh Walton, of Scrivens Opticians, said: “High streets are a vital part of our community, local businesses on our high street help each other, we always have a cheery smile and we donate to a lot of different organisations.

“Fingers crossed our entry will be successful so Printing Office Street in Doncaster will get it’s name recognised as a great place to live, shop and work.”

Other business owners on the street said they would like to see the top £10, 000 prize spent on Christmas decorations and improving the street scene.

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Annie Oakley, aged 57, of Town Moor and co-owner of Torr’s English Deli, said: “For a long time now the street has not had any Christmas decorations up and I think it suffers because of that.

“If people are coming into the town who have not been before during the festive season they naturally go to where the Christmas lights are as they think that is where the shopping hub is.

“We we had some illuminations then this would surely bring more people into the street.

“If we had some hanging basket planters or something aswell that would make the area look better.”

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Beverley Georgiou, owner of the Four Seasons restaurant, agrees that a better street scene would benefit the area.

The 53-yearold, of Thorne, said: “We are having a refurbishment shortly and a few shops which are in the old Walkabout building will be open soon. In addition, the Old Angel pub will relaunch too and if we win this money too, then this area could have a real buzz about it very soon.

“We need to use the money as a way of promoting this part of the town and a better street scene would certainly do that.”

The competition, now in its third year and run by the department for communities and local government, is open for nominations until Friday, September 9. The top three shortlisted in each category will be announced in October.

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Andrew Percy MP, high streets minister, said: “Our local high streets remain the life and soul of towns, villages and cities across the country and I’d encourage as many of them as possible to enter this year’s competition before the closing date.”

Visit www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk

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