Bid launched to broaden city centre appeal
Key agencies in Derby have come together to launch a bid to achieve Purple Flag status for the city centre by broadening its appeal to a wider audience.
Purple Flag status is a national initiative which is only accredited to town and city centres that provide a safe and welcoming, high quality night time environment that is inviting to a wide cross section of people.
Derby aims to achieve accreditation by 2013 and is setting up a project team with representatives from key agencies including Derbyshire Constabulary, Derby City Council, Derby Community Safety Partnership, Derby LIVE, Marketing Derby, City Centre Management Derby (CCMDerby) and the Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District, who will work together to take Derby towards Purple Flag status.
Proposed initiatives under discussion include shops opening later, extended opening times for public buildings such as museums and libraries, establishing an events and festival programme, expanding responsible drinking campaigns, encouraging a more diverse range of night time venues, coordinated decisions on licensing and street design, better lighting, improved public transport and parking for visitors.
A Project Coordinator has been appointed – Richard Morley - who is an officer with Derbyshire Constabulary and has previously worked on the licensing and City Centre Safer Neighbourhood teams He has been seconded to the CCMDerby Team for this project.
He explained: “The city centre is basically like a jigsaw. We have most of the pieces in place to evolve the wider city centre experience and build upon the work already underway and we know the picture that we want on the box. We just need to bring that all together now with a new focus of achieving Purple Flag status.”
CCM Derby Manager Melanie Allen continued: “Whilst there is an eclectic mix of art and culture, restaurants, cinemas, bars and nightclubs, the city centre night time economy is notably weighted towards the younger age group of 18 to 30 rather than a high quality experience for everyone including families and older people.
“Our challenge is to continue to evolve the wider city centre experience including leisure and culture, improved public realm and more quality events which will create a better evening economy that is more inclusive.”
Head of Derby police, Chief Superintendent Andy Hough, added: “
“However, there are issues that need to be addressed, not least that the city centre has the fifth highest concentration of licensed premises in the country with more than 100 licensed bars in close proximity, attracting up to 30,000 people each weekend.
“This geographically-focused environment brings some challenges, particularly in relation to alcohol-related violent crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Broadening the appeal of the city centre to a wider range of people will certainly go a long way to tackling such issues and I welcome the partnership initiative to take a holistic view of what is needed in the city centre to make it a more inclusive place to enjoy.”
Derby Community Safety Partnership Interim Director Andy Thomas continued: “There are already a number of successful initiatives underway in the city centre led by different agencies including the Street Pastor, Taxi Marshall, Bar Futures responsible licensing work, Street Pride, public events and health promotion campaigns.”
Leader of Derby City Council Cllr Harvey Jennings concluded: “We all want to achieve the same goal – to make Derby a safe and welcoming environment for all – and I am confident that the record of successful partnership working in the city will mean that achieving Purple Flag status by 2013 is realistic.”
Ends
Media enquiries:
Sarah Jenkin-Jones, JJPR, Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945 665; sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk
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