Latest successes boost Chesterfield's "medals" haul

Two more awards for Chesterfield Borough Council, announced within the last few days, have taken the town's "medals haul" to new heights. The Council has won a score of major awards in the last few years, for projects ranging through licensing, craftsmanship, tourism and health to use of new technology and the achievements of its young craft apprentices.

The last week has seen the town earn a Silver Gilt Medal in the prestigious East Midlands in Bloom competition and win the national "Best Efficiency Initiative" award from the Association for Public Service Excellence (full details in CBC press releases 116 and 118, both issued on September 13).

Before that, national recognition has come the way of Chesterfield's Museum and Tourist Information Centre - the latter, which has been voted Best TIC in the country, having received bouquets both for the craftsmanship that went into building it and the service it provides to tourists and local people alike.

The town's "Percent for Art" scheme has been recognised with top awards at regional and national level while a scheme to help teenage parents drew Government praise, as did improvements in Chesterfield's recycling rates. Official Government figures also put the Council amongst the top performers in the country for providing services.

Moves to revitalise the town centre won national "Green Apple Civic Pride" awards for two years running while the Government plans to use the way the Borough Council runs its European-funded improvement schemes as an example for other local authorities to follow.

Chesterfield's famous Market was voted runner-up in a competition to find the best market in the country and this summer Queen's Park received the coveted Green Flag award from the Government.

The town's attractions have even impressed the BBC! The antiques valuation programme "Flog It!" was filmed here last Sunday (September 10) and was a roaring success. More than 1,000 people turned up with their heirlooms - the biggest turnout of the series - and BBC bosses said there was a "really good atmosphere" and are planning to return to film another programme as soon as possible.

Cllr Ray Russell, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: "We get many compliments from local residents for the work that the Borough Council does to try to make the Borough an even better place to live and work in than it already is - and to attract more and more visitors - so we know that we're working along the right lines.

"Even so, it's really special to get official national recognition of the quality of what we are doing."