Partnership celebrates tenth anniversary

Buy photos » Steve Knight, Kate Walton, MP Harriett Baldwin and Michael Amies celebrate ten years of the Pershore Market Town Partnership. Photo by Marcus Mingins 4012003MMR Order this picture online at www.buyphotos247.com

THE MANAGER of Pershore Market Town Partnership said he believes the town has seen significant improvements since they formed ten years ago.

It was a day of celebration on Thursday (September 27) as the partnership celebrated its tenth anniversary at the Pershore Number 8 Community Arts Centre - the venue of one of the organisation's biggest achievements.

Launched in 2002, the Pershore Market Town Partnership was set up to bring together organisations from the public, private, community and voluntary sector to deliver projects which would help improve the quality of life in the area.

Projects undertaken by the partnership over the years include helping with the creation of Number 8, the development of a visitor information centre, new town signage, creation of the town’s wetlands conservation area and installing a summer activities programme for young people.

The celebratory event included speeches from Pershore Market Town chairman Michael Amies, Pershore MP Harriet Baldwin, town Mayor Charles Tucker and Kate Walton from the Pershore Volunteer Centre.

Steve Knight, Pershore Market Town Partnership manager, said: "I think the town would be a completely different place if the partnership hadn't actually existed.

"There has been a lot of items that have been created from the grants over the years but more importantly the services that have been provided such as the Riverside Youth Centre where a lot of effort and support has gone into it.

"The partnership helps get projects for the town on the way but there is usually sometimes something missing like a contact or a bit of funding and that is where the partnership comes in and is great doing."

Pershore's MP Harriett Baldwin told the Observer the partnership has done wonders for the town.

"The Partnership has got a long list of achievements to its name including reviving the mid-summer brass festival which has been a great success," she said.

"It's exemplary with the way it works with different bodies such as Wychavon District Council, the county council, the police and fire brigade to make sure everyone is pulling in the same direction.

"Pershore is a wonderful place to live but there is a need to bring more visitors here and a need to discuss how the town works and how it should develop in the future and this is a very useful forum for that."

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