Column in the Glamorgan GEM by Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP:
Readers will be aware that Cowbridge High Street has been nominated in the Great British High Street Awards, reaching the national final for the Rising Star Award. They are one of only 12 nominations and this is a huge opportunity to show the rest of the country one of our thriving and successful high streets.
We’re fortunate in the Vale to have a number of excellent high streets, in Llantwit and Barry as well as in Cowbridge, that make our home a fantastic place to live, work, visit and do business. It’s absolutely vital that we support the Vale’s nomination to help to put us on the map and benefit the wider area. Success for Cowbridge can be success for all of the Vale and I urge everyone to get behind Cowbridge before voting ends on 31st October.
All voting will be conducted over social media, with voters able to use Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using both of the hashtags #MYHIGHSTREET and #GBHSCowbridge to register their vote and there is no limit to how many times we can vote.
I want to pay tribute to Kate of Sylvia Williams Chemist, Alun John of Arthur John and the rest of the team of traders who have worked extremely hard to champion Cowbridge. Their hard work has helped to get Cowbridge to this position and it’s now down to us as a community to pull together and vote to push them over the finish line.
Cowbridge has made excellent use of an app called NearMeNow, which uses exciting new technology to link customers to discounts and deals. Their use of technology shows how forward looking traders on the High Street are and I have no doubt they could make great use of the financial reward to the winning community to further benefit shoppers.
The local economy across the Vale has seen an upturn over recent years and Cowbridge High Street is increasingly becoming an even more attractive place to set up shop. The traders deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication promoting Cowbridge, so please be sure to register your vote!