Fresh appeal to back Rotherham for High Street Award

TIME is running out to back Rotherham High Street in the battle to be named the best in the land — as it lags behind in the voting.

Rotherham currently trails Tamworth and Altrincham in the category of Best Town Centre High Street in the Great British High Street Awards.

There are just two weeks to go before public voting finishes in the competition and organisers said Rotherham had “dropped from first to third place after intense voting in that category”.

Winners in each of the seven categories get a share of a prize pot worth £80,000 which includes expert training and tailor-made tips from Google's training taskforce for 100 of their shops, bars and restaurants.

The public vote makes up 50 per cent of the final decision.

Rotherham High Street has been transformed in recent years by the opening of several new independent shops and cafes and the renovation of some of the town’s most important historical buildings.

Bernadette Rushton, Bid Leader from Rotherham Council said: “In recent years a number of partners in our town have made every effort to make Rotherham a better place to work, shop and socialise.

“That’s why we are delighted that that work regenerate the town centre has been recognised and that we have been shortlisted in the Town Centre category in this year's national competition.

“But to help us get over the line and be ranked Britain's best, we need local people to get online and get voting.”

The Great British High Street Competition 2015 is run by the Department for Communities and Local Government and sponsored by Boots, Costa, Post Office, Marks and Spencer and Tesco.

High Streets Minister Marcus Jones said: “High streets are at the very heart of our communities and these awards celebrate the great innovative work happening on the ground to help them adapt and flourish.

“Rotherham did fantastically well to make it into the final three but now they need your help to get them the title of Britain's best.

“Over 100,000 votes have already been cast, but all is still to play for with two weeks of voting still to go. So get behind your high street by voting.”

You can cast your vote until November 13 at thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk.