PR 265

For Immediate Release

10 October 2006

Great Yarmouth has been praised for getting no fewer than five projects through to the finals of the GO-East celebrate awards – including one winner, with the Time & Tide museum scooping the Tourism Award.

The other short-listed projects demonstrated the range of regeneration and community improvement initiatives that are helping to transform the town and the wider area.

They were:

• inteGREAT Regeneration Project – Marine Parade/Regent Road Phase 1 (shortlisted for the Local Transformation Award.)

• The Learning Store on King Street ( Best Use of ICT Award).

• The Cobholm & Lichfield Childcare Centre (Enterprise Award).

• The Cobholm & Lichfield Health & Resource Centre (Community Spirit Award).

“The Celebrate Awards focus upon the best projects in the whole of Eastern England that have been developed with the help of European funding. For one town to come away with a winner and four other finalists is a credit to everyone involved,” said Joolz Tinsley, Regeneration Officer for Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

Further information on Great Yarmouth’s finalists

For the Time & Tide museum winning the Tourism Award is further confirmation of the museum’s excellence – it was a finalist in last year’s Gulbenkian Museum of the Year award. Time & Tide brings to life Yarmouth’s maritime heritage, its herring curing industry and recalls the lives of those who made that history.

The inteGREAT partnership has vastly improved pedestrian links between the town centre and Marine Parade. The safe, pedestrian-friendly streetscape allows people to move more freely between shopping areas and the popular tourist areas and activities. This first phase, including new paving, lighting, street furniture and the ceiling of light has concentrated on Regent Road and the Britannia Pier end of Marine Parade. The project has already won a Local Government News Award for street design.

The Great Yarmouth Learning Store is a key project in the Great Yarmouth Learning Community which comprises 22 partner organisations who. Based in the town centre at 169 King Street, its free and impartial services include:

• Advice and information on a full range of local learning, training and vocational opportunities.

• One to one consultations

• Free internet access for learning, training and employment purposes.

• Outreach support and activities in local communities.

The Cobholm & Lichfield Resource Centre opened in February 2004. Local people played a key role in the development of the centre, sited between Cobholm and Lichfield, and are responsible, through a Management Group, for its day to day running. The project has provided an enhanced image to the gateway of Great Yarmouth, strengthened the local communities and provided important facilities including health clinics, community rooms, office accommodation and a 42 place full day care nursery.

The Resource Centre’s Childcare Centre was shortlisted for a separate award. The centre now includes a 42-place nursery, offering full day care for 0-5 years, two After School Clubs for 4-12 years, a Holiday Playscheme for 4-12 years and also runs the newly opened crèche in St James Health & Resource Centre. Altogether the Childcare Centre employs 30 people, most qualified to Level 3, and including an interpreter/playworker to support the Portuguese families.

Issued by:
John Birchill
LPSA Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846512