Member Article

Liverpool raises Purple Flag in support of night-time economy

Liverpool city centre is going purple – to flag-up the need to protect the night-time economy.

The city is to host the national launch of Purple Flag Week (21-29 September) which will highlight contributions the night-time economy makes to communities through a series of events.

In Liverpool this will include a treasure hunt across the retail area and events at various night time venues.

Baroness Newlove, the Government’s Champion for Active Safer Communities and Victims’ Commissioner who is this year’s Purple Flag Week Champion, will start the week’s events by switching on lights to bathe the Lime Street Piazza in purple light on Saturday night.

The switch-on is one of several taking place in towns and cities across the country which will see castles, cathedrals, fountains and sea-sides illuminated in purple light.

She will be accompanied by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Gary Millar, and representatives of the police, the Business Improvement District and city centre businesses. The Lord Mayor will raise a purple flag at Chavasse Park.

There will also be a tour of the city centre including a bird’s eye view from the Radio City Tower.

Liverpool city centre retained its Purple Flag this year and the Association of Town and City Management, which operates the scheme, held it up as an exemplar to others.

Councillor Peter Brennan, Mayoral Lead for Community Safety said; “The fact that Liverpool has been chosen to host the national launch of Purple Flag week shows that our city centre is being recognised widely as one which is safe, clean and well-managed.

“We have hundreds of thousands of visitors each week in the city centre and thanks to the partnership between the various agencies, businesses and residents they enjoy a vibrant and safe environment.

“We are delighted that Baroness Newlove will visit the city to start the week and see how the night-time economy is managed in our city.”

Baroness Newlove, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be Purple Flag Week Champion. I believe the scheme is making a positive impact, helping to create better, safer nights out for everyone and in tackling issues such as crime and anti-social behaviour is helping to turn around the perceptions of the night time economies of many of our towns and city centres.

“I am looking forward to the different activities throughout the week and hope that others will see the value in participating in the Purple Flag Scheme.”

Philip Kolvin QC, Chairman of the Purple Flag Board commented, “This is the second year that we’ve run Purple Flag Week, with more and more centres getting involved to showcase the best that our towns and cities have to offer and the important role that the evening economy plays in our local communities.

“Kicking off with the exciting Big Purple Switch On, we expect to see some fantastic celebrations from most of the 42 towns and cities across the country that have already been awarded a Purple Flag accreditation.

“With the support of government, the police, local businesses and our sponsors Diageo Great Britain, Purple Flag is helping us all to celebrate the quality, diversity and vibrancy on offer in our towns and cities by challenging the negative perceptions of our urban areas at night time.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .