A DELEGATION from Warrington attended an award ceremony in Bournemouth to officially receive the Purple Flag awarded to Stockton Heath village.
The ceremony saw towns and cities officially recognised for the quality of their night-time experience – with Stockton 
Heath being the first village ever to have been awarded a Purple Flag.
Criteria for the award is meeting high standards for showing night time visitors an entertaining and safe and night out.
Purple Flag is an award backed by government, police and business, and funded by Diageo GB.
To receive the award, towns and cities are required to be welcoming to all visitors and provide a diverse mix of leisure and entertainment facilities, restaurants and bars which accommodate people of all ages. They must also offer safe ways for visitors to travel home after a night out.
Philip Kolvin QC, chairman of the Purple Flag Board said: “Purple Flag status is a cause for celebration, and the nine new Purple Flag towns and cities are deserving recipients of the award.
“They have worked hard to meet and maintain the high standards required and I am delighted that they are joining the other sixteen centres who have achieved Purple Flag status”.
Terry O’Neill, leader of Warrington Borough Council, said: “We wanted to broaden the appeal of the area to families and to celebrate what Stockton Heath has to offer its residents and visitors alike.
“Purple Flag is the first step in helping us to do this. It’s been a real team effort involving the local and parish council, local councillors, residents representatives, local youth parliament member, the licensing trade, police, fire service and neighbourhood board. We recognise that there is always more that can be done to make further improvements but the village is right to be proud of this fantastic achievement.”
The flag will be officially raised for the first time in Stockton Heath in the New Year.
Pictured: Paul Davies, association of Town Centre managers, Helen Curwen, Stockton Heath resident and Daniel McGrath, Association of Town Centre Managers at the ceremony.
Village picks up its Purple Flag
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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Look…. let’s get one thing straight. Stockton Heath is no longer a village; it is another section of a huge town called Warrington. Villages are little rural communities with a dozen houses, a pub and a shop….. it really makes me laugh that the residents of SH seem to think they still live in such a place! SH these days is just an extension of Bridge Street and hardley something from Midsomer Murders…..