Towns and cities which
have achieved Purple Flag status for their vibrant, varied and safe night time
economy are being encouraged to follow the lead of one of the UK's ancient
walled cities and celebrate their title with flowers.
Chester's BID team, CH1ChesterBID, last summer decorated its famous
medieval rows with more than a hundred window boxes, barrier baskets and
planters filled with purple blooms to mark their achievement - with help from
civic floral display experts Plantscape.
It was the second year
that they had appointed Plantscape to grow, supply and maintain their blooms.
They were so bowled over by the success of 2017 that they wanted to replicate
it in a different hue last summer.
Nick White, CH1ChesterBID's city
centre manager, said: "In honour of our recent Purple Flag accreditation
we chose a purple colour scheme, which we believe worked really well and
brightened up our streets and rows. Chester always looks fantastic in the
summer months and we think the addition of these displays made it even more
attractive for residents and visitors."
More than 70 towns and cities have earned Purple Flag
accreditation after fulfilling the ATCM's criteria. The evening economy of all
flag holders must be safe and welcoming, walking around and getting home
safely must be easy and a diverse selection of entertainment has to be offered
to a range of ages, groups, lifestyles and cultures.
The
towns also need to be alive during the day,
as well as in the evening, with a blend of activities which encourage people to
mingle and enjoy the ambience.
The Purple Flag standard, launched in 2012, is an accreditation
process similar to the Green Flag award for parks and the Blue Flag for beaches
which allows members of the public to quickly identify town and city centres
which offer an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night out.
