The awards, run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and sponsored by Visa, recognise and celebrate local achievements on our high streets and shine a light on great examples of how high streets can meet the challenges of changing consumer behaviour and a changing retail environment.

After a rigorous selection process led by a panel of independent judges, 26 high streets have been shortlisted in the Champion high street category, which aims to find the UK’s best high street, while 12 high streets have been shortlisted in the Rising Star category, which aims to find the UK’s most ambitious high streets.

Shortlisted high streets – Champion category

England

• Queen Street, Amble, Northumberland (Northumberland County Council)
• Gloucester Road Bishopston, Bristol (Bristol City Council)
• Wimborne Town Centre, East Dorset (East Dorset District Council)
• High Street Alton, Alton, Hampshire, (Alton Town Counci)l
• Worcester High Street, Worcester (Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council)
• The Pantiles, Chapel Place and High Street Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council)
• Hull Trinity Market and Hepworth’s Arcade, Kingston upon Hull, (Hull City Council)
• St Albans City Centre, Holywell Hill, George Street, High Street, Catherine Street and St Peter’s Street, St Albans (St Albans City & District Council)
• Guildford High Street, Guildford, Surrey (Guildford Borough Council)
• The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, Suffolk (Suffolk Coastal)
• Altrincham High Street, (Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council)
• Poole High Street, Poole, Dorset, (Borough of Poole)
• Original Richmond Market Town, Richmond, (Richmondshire District Council)

Scotland

• Alness High Street, Alness (Highland Council)
• ‘Avenue 77’ – (A77- Pollokshaws/Kilmarnock Road Corridor), Glasgow
• Main Street / High Street, Turriff, Aberdeenshire Council
• High Street, Kirriemuir, Angus Council
• Kirkwall High Street , Orkney, Orkney Islands Council
• High Street Newport-on-Tay, Fife

Wales

• Holywell, Flintshire, (Flintshire County Council)
• Broad Street/High Street, Welshpool, Powys, (Powys County Council)
• Crickhowell High Street, Crickhowell, Powys, (Powys County Council)
• Carmarthen Town, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire (Carmarthenshire County Council)

Northern Ireland

• Cookstown Town Centre, Cookstown, (Mid Ulster District Council)
• Portadown Town Centre, Portadown, (Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council).
• High Street/Market Street Omagh, (Fermanagh and Omagh District Council).

Shortlisted high streets – Rising Star category

England

• Northwich, Cheshire, (Cheshire West and Chester Council)
• Burnley Road, Todmorden (Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council)
• Barnes High Street and Church Road, Barnes, London, (London Borough of Richmond upon Thames)

Scotland

• Prestwick Main Street, Prestwick, (South Ayrshire Council)
• High Street, Newport-on-Tay, Fife
• Ayr High Street, Ayr, (South Ayrshire Council)

Wales

• Pendre, Priory and High Street, Cardigan, Ceredigion, (Ceredigion County Council)
• Narberth, Narberth, Pembroke, (Pembrokeshire County Council)
• Cowbridge High Street, Cowbridge, The Vale of Glamorgan, (Vale of Glamorgan Council)

Northern Ireland

• Main Street, Larne, County Antrim, (Mid and East Antrim Borough Council)
• Bow Street, Lisburn City Centre, Lisburn Castlereagh, (Lisburn Castlereagh City Council)
• Armagh City Centre, County Armagh, (Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council)

The 38 finalists will now battle it out in a public vote, which accounts for 30% of the final scoring, and will then have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they seek to be crowned Britain’s best.

Those interested in participating in the public vote can visit thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk for more information. The winning entries for both the Champion and Rising Star categories will be announced on 15 November 2018 at an awards ceremony in London.

High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP said:

Congratulations to all 38 high streets shortlisted for this year’s Great British High Street Awards. The awards celebrate the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets and the quality of entries this year has been outstanding.

Over the next 6 weeks they have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they also battle it out in a public vote for the title of Britain’s best high street. This is a great opportunity to show your support for the hard work taking place on our high streets, so get voting.

Sundeep Kaur, Head of UK & Ireland Merchant Services at Visa, added:

At a time when the nation’s high streets are transforming, this year’s Great British High Street Awards shortlist contains some fantastic examples of high streets and merchants which are evolving and embracing change to attract visitors.

It is genuinely heartening to see so many businesses and communities that are harnessing their adaptability, resilience and creativity to offer the services and experiences that today’s shoppers want.

The Great British High Street Awards 2018, which are being run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, sponsored by Visa and backed by other partners, is recognising and celebrating local achievements on our high streets and supporting the communities in which we live and work.

The initiative includes a competition to find the nation’s best high streets, with 1 winner being named in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for each of the 2 categories: the Champion and Rising Star awards. An overall winner will also be named.

Author and TV presenter Simon Reeve is a judge for the Great British High Street Awards 2018.

Simon Reeve said:

I’ve spent the last couple of months visiting independent high street retailers across the UK and I’ve been blown away by the passion and commitment shown by shopkeepers to keep their high streets alive, especially in this challenging climate.

The best examples are those that are listening closely to their customers and innovating to meet their demands. These are the shops and high streets that will stand the test of time.

In 2016, Blackburn in Lancashire was crowned the Great British High Street winner thanks to the determination of the community and local businesses who worked in partnership to drive improvements and overcome the challenges their high street was facing.

For more information about the Great British High Street Awards 2018 terms and conditions and details on how to vote, visit: thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk.

To get involved in the conversation, members of the public can support their local high street on social media using #MyHighStreet via:

Research

The research was conducted by 3Gem between 26 April and 8 May 2018 and surveyed 2,000 consumers and 750 independent high street retailers across the UK.

Prizes

The prizes include 4 x £5,000 contribution towards a street party for Champion Award winners; 4 x £5,000 grant towards a local community / technology project for Rising Star Award winners and; 1 x £10,000 grant for a local community project for the Overall UK Award winner. Visit thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/terms for full terms and prize details.

A company director and his company have been sentenced to fines of £38,000 and costs of £33,000 in Nottingham Magistrates Court today after breaching conditions of an environmental permit over a 19 month period. The breaches led to a significant impact on the lives of local residents.

Ryan Colson, of Westfield Avenue, Heanor, Derbyshire, is the director of Colson Transport Limited, a waste transfer company on Bulwell Lane in Old Basford, Nottingham. Colson and his company Colson Transport Ltd took over the site from the previous operators and the volume of waste passing through the site increased significantly. This led to dust escaping from the site and odour problems developed. This had a significant impact on the lives of the local residents, businesses and the primary school, located close to the site.

Tim Pole, Prosecution Counsel on behalf of the Environment Agency, told the court that the failure to comply with the environmental permit and storing waste on site in inappropriate ways led to the significant impact on the community. In addition, Mr Colson had stored combustible waste on site. The consequences of a fire on site would have reached beyond the company itself, and could have impacted on other businesses as well as a primary school situated nearby.

The Court was told that the nature, number and frequency of the complaints to the Environment Agency demonstrated the negative impact that the Mr Colson’s poor management of the site had on the lives of local residents.

Colson Transport Ltd and its owner Mr Colson had a history of non-compliance and had received a written warning from the Environment Agency prior to the commencement of the Prosecution However Mr Colson failed to consistently operate the site in compliance with the Permit.

Mr Colson and Colson Transport Ltd cooperated with the investigation and showed evidence of taking steps to remedy the problems on site. There was investment of approximately £350,000 into the site and there was an acceptance of responsibility.

In sentencing the case District Judge Spruce found that the local residents had suffered because of the dust and odour problems emanating from the site, but there was no finding by District Judge Spruce that this created a risk to human health. The length of time that the breaches spanned was an aggravating feature and as was the history of non-compliance. However in mitigation the District Judge had noted the character references provided and found that Colson Transport limited was a responsible waste management operation. The District Judge found that there was no financial gain to Colson Transport Limited or to Ryan Colson as a result of the permit breaches.

Commenting after the hearing, Environment Officer Everal Burrell said:

The Environment Agency works hard to protect people and the environment while supporting the vast majority of businesses that operate responsibly. This case demonstrates that we will take action against those who do not operate their business within the confines of relevant regulations.

We hope this case will serve as an example and a warning for other operators to take their responsibilities seriously. We are determined to take actions against those who don’t.

ENDS

Mr Vice-President, Excellencies. It is an honour to address you today.

I would finally like to express the United Kingdom’s gratitude to outgoing High Commissioner Zeid for his commitment and dedication to furthering the cause of human rights during his tenure. We thank him for his principled and considered approach, and his willingness to speak out in defence of human rights around the world.

I would also like to congratulate his successor Michelle Bachelet on her appointment. Michelle’s extraordinary wealth of knowledge, and her personal and professional experience, will be invaluable in this role and we wish her every success and look forward to working with her.

Mr President, we deeply regret the decision of the United States to withdraw from the Council. However it should give us all pause to reflect on the challenges this Council faces, and look more closely at the areas where it can and should improve.

Membership is one such area.

Countries standing for the Council are duty bound to uphold the highest standards, and to cooperate with this Council and its mechanisms. We believe that they should be prepared to make campaign pledges, and to discuss their candidacy at open hustings. People look to this Council to defend their rights, guard their freedoms and ensure respect for their dignity.

We all have a responsibility to make this Council work more effectively, to ensure these rights and protections are upheld, for all individuals around the world. This includes identifying where assistance is most needed, and how best to deliver it. We must start this process now, and do it quickly, because around the world human rights remain under threat.

Mr President, I spoke about some of the most serious and pressing issues in this Chamber earlier this year. Sadly many are no less urgent today.

Burma

The conclusions of the UN Fact Finding Mission have provided an authoritative account of crimes committed against the Rohingya community in Burma. The descriptions of atrocities, including murder and rape, make for horrific reading. The report confirms the appalling and systematic oppression of the Rohingya people over a number of years; and highlights patterns of violence and violations elsewhere in the country.

The Rohingya must receive justice for the horrific acts perpetrated against them. There cannot be impunity for these crimes. The Fact Finding Mission concludes that these acts warrant the investigation and prosecution of senior Burmese officials, to determine their liability for genocide in relation to the situation in Rakhine State.

We commend the Fact Finding Mission for its detailed and comprehensive report. These are the gravest findings that could be placed before this Council. They deserve our full attention, both here and at the Security Council.

The Burmese government must set out how its Commission of Inquiry will investigate these crimes with impartiality, and how those responsible will be held to account through a judicial process.

The UK will continue to focus on ensuring that Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh can voluntarily return to Burma, in safety, in dignity and with international oversight. We will also continue to support a democratic transition in Burma. One that promotes freedom, tolerance and diversity and charts a path towards sustainable peace and prosperity for Burma and all its people. This remains a key priority for our government and the Foreign Secretary will himself be visiting Burma shortly to sustain the momentum for progress.

Syria

In Syria, human rights and international humanitarian law continue to be flouted on a daily basis, with the torture of detainees, bombing of schools and hospitals, and credible reports of chemical weapons attacks. The UK is deeply concerned about the escalating military action by the Syrian regime and its backers in North West Syria, which is putting millions of civilians at risk. The UK calls on the regime and its backers in Russia and Iran to uphold the ceasefire they have previously agreed, and to respect international humanitarian law.

The decision by the Asad regime to name the Syrians who have died in its detention facilities confirms the long held and worst fears of concerned families. It has been rightly highlighted by the Commission of Inquiry and is further proof, from the regime itself, of the brutality that it has inflicted on the Syrian people. The UK also remains concerned about sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls, who have been disproportionately victimised since the beginning of the conflict.

Sri Lanka

We welcome the steps taken by the government of Sri Lanka to return land to its people, and to begin the work of the Office on Missing Persons.

We urge them to make more progress in implementing the commitments made to the Council to secure long-term reconciliation. This includes devolution through constitutional reform, and progress on truth-seeking and accountability.

Yemen

The report of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen further underlined the deeply concerning human rights situation in Yemen and the importance of reaching a political solution to conflict. We are carefully considering the contents of the report and support the extension of the mandate of the Group of Eminent Experts.’

Maldives

The UK continues to urge the government of the Maldives to cease all interference in independent institutions, including the judiciary, Parliament and the Elections Commission. We urge it to guarantee that the Presidential elections later this month are free and fair.

Girls’ Education

As the Council heard in June, the UK is committed to ensuring that all girls, everywhere, receive 12 years of quality education. This Council has set a record in bringing together 152 states to make a joint statement on the need to step up efforts to ensure every girl has access to quality education.

This support underlines the strength of our shared desire to achieve this goal by 2030. However, delivering on it will require genuine political commitment and cooperation from all member states.

To address this challenge, the UK will be co-hosting an event during the UN General Assembly later this month to encourage concerted action. I invite you to join us and lend your support.

Conclusion

Mr President, the human rights picture in many parts of the world is bleak, but we should not lose heart. We should recognise the immense value of this Council, and the wider human rights system, and acknowledge their achievements.

Within the last year this Council has, among many other things, convened Special Sessions that have focussed international attention on the desperate situations in Burma and in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta; it has also reviewed 42 states under the Universal Periodic Review Process. It is vital that we work together to help states implement their accepted recommendations.

Finally, while it is the duty of this Council to challenge those who violate the rights of their citizens, we should also welcome the progress of those governments committed to change, to making improvements and to engaging constructively with this Council and the mechanisms at its disposal.

We know that for the individuals whose human rights are violated today – and tomorrow, and next week – change cannot come soon enough. It is heart-breaking to see their suffering. But we know that by working together, in this Council, by going step by step, we can bring about lasting change. Change that will relieve suffering, repair trust and restore fundamental rights and freedoms. The United Kingdom is committed to working with this Council to bring about that change.

Thank you Mr President.