An award winning evening for all

Encouraging local businesses within the town centres to improve their appearance, recycling and general access is a high priority on the Towns' Management agenda and every year they coordinate the Tidy Trader and In Bloom Competitions for Batley and Dewsbury.

Businesses are encouraged to be Tidy Traders by participating in this fun, light hearted competition. For the traders, it offers them the opportunity to receive publicity and positive feedback for the things they do as a matter of course in running their businesses.

This year's competition proved popular throughout the towns' of Batley and Dewsbury with a record number of over 95 shops and businesses entering.

As well as the overall appearance of the businesses premises, the competition has focussed for the first time on energy conservation and recycling.

The importance of good access for elderly and disabled customers was highlighted as an area of importance this year and points were added to final scores for consideration that businesses give to the ease of access for those who may need additional assistance in getting around their premises. Further points were added for efforts that businesses are making to conserve energy and recycle waste materials to reduce their "Carbon Footprint" and as part of a campaign to highlight the benefits of a healthy diet, the Towns' Management team are encouraging restaurants, cafes, hotels, pubs, nurseries and care homes in the area to apply for the Kirklees Healthy Choice Award which recognises businesses for high standards of food hygiene and for providing healthy options on their menus.

The Kirklees Community Rangers judged the neatness of the outside of businesses and were out and about throughout August and September. Local Councillors and business people were invited to judge the In Bloom competition which looks for the businesses who have added the most "kerb appeal" to their premises with their floral displays.

The Tidy Trader Awards evening was held at The Lounge Café at Redbrick Mill last Thursday with a record number of business people attending to enjoy a delicious buffet prepared by the staff there. The Wakefield Arms Jazz Band kept everyone entertained throughout the evening.

The Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Jean Calvert attended to hand out the awards and the Towns' Management Team gave a video presentation of the role of Towns Management in Batley and Dewsbury.

The winners were:

Batley In Bloom Winners

1st Prize The Mill with hanging baskets prepared by the students from The Dewsbury College Courtyard Project. 2nd Prize Whitfield Hallam and Goodall Solicitors 3rd Prize DIP Training

Batley Tidy Trader Winners

1st Prize Batley DIY 2nd Prize Kirkwood Hospice 3rd Prize Alder House Hotel

Dewsbury In Bloom Winners

1st Prize Eric Box Funeral Directors 2nd Prize Headhunters Hairdressers 3rd Prize Direct Training

Dewsbury Tidy Trader Winners

1st Prize Café Geo 2nd Prize Christine's Florist 3rd Prize Lloyds Pharmacy

The Award for greatest efforts made towards ease of access went to the Arts Council Dewsbury

The Award for greatest efforts made towards reducing carbon footprint went to the Batley Resource Centre

Kirklees Healthy Choice Gold Award Winners

Bloomers Batley Cloggs Coffee Shop Dewsbury Dewsbury Minster Refectory Dewsbury Sports Centre All three Greggs outlets in Batley and Dewsbury Jans Sandwich Shop Batley Library Café Redbrick Mill Lounge Restaurant Redbrick Mill Subway Dewsbury Tesco Extra Café Batley

Viv Edmonds, Assistant Towns' Manager said "We run these events to encourage local businesses to take pride in the appearance of their premises and I would like to thank all of the businesses for the great efforts that they put in to make their businesses attractive and accessible. The knock on effect of this is that our town centres have looked more vibrant and attractive to visitors and shoppers during the course of the year.

Both Area Committees have once again subsidised the cost of the hanging baskets we offer for sale from our Kirklees Nurseries. This has resulted in a 30% increase in sales over last year! My thanks are also due to everyone who has entered the Tidy Trader Competition. All of the businesses who purchased and displayed hanging baskets. Both of the teams of volunteers in Batley and Dewsbury who have worked so hard on the entries of both towns into the Yorkshire In Bloom competition resulting in Silver Awards this year for both towns. Kirklees Parks and Open Spaces, Highways and Environmental Services who between them who have kept the parks and town centres looking radiant. Both Area Committees for their generous sponsorship and finally, last but not least the mastermind behind our floral displays…the man who grows the plants and plans the planting schemes - Mr Paul Marshall of Kirklees Nurseries."