Council seeks purple flag for village

ONE of Warrington’s night time “hotspots” is hoping for recognition as a safe and welcoming place for people of all ages.
Warrington Borough Council is working with police, businesses and the community to broaden the appeal of Stockton Heath village during the early evening.
It hopes to win a Purple Flag for the village – a new accreditation scheme that recognises areas providing a safe and welcoming environment for people of all ages.
The group want to make the village more vibrant and welcoming to families to dispel its reputation as a night time haunt for young revellers. They also want to safeguard the look and feel of the village.
Cllr Mike Biggin, the council’s executive member for public protection, said: “The council want to ensure that residents and businesses are valued and that all ages use the village.
“We want everyone to work together to make the area safe. A purple flag would mean Stockton Heath is recognised as a safe and family-friendly place to visit.”
The scheme is managed by the Association of Town Centre Managers working alongside the Purple Flag Advisory Committee – a partnership of key stakeholder groups, including central and local government, police, business and consumers.
It aims to reduce anti-social behaviour, improve the look of an area, reduce health inequalities, improve parks and open spaces.
In Stockton Heath the aim will be to provide safe and welcoming licensed establishments and promote a smooth transition from day to night-time economy.