Not Long Left to Cast Your Vote in the Best Dressed Window Competition

This month has seen numerous shops in Bedford High Street and neighbouring streets take part in a 'Best Dressed Window' competition. A tremendous number of local businesses have taken part, including 25 independent retailers. It's a reminder of how fortunate we are to have many local retailers who make a real effort to attract people to their stores and in turn make our town centre more attractive and inviting for visitors.

Voting closes on Sunday, so if you've not done so yet, why not show your support for our local retailers and cast your vote online here: www.bedford.gov.uk/bestdressed. It only takes a minute online, and handily the form has images of all the entrants. You can also vote via the 'Bedford Best Dressed Competition' Facebook page, or by picking up entry forms in-store at participating retailers and returning them completed to Bedford Central Library. By casting your vote, you will be entered into a prize draw for £25 Love Bedford vouchers which will go to two lucky winners.

The competition is being run through the Townscape Heritage Initiative project for the High Street, hence the focus on the High Street and the surrounding area. I'm told that nearly a thousand people have already voted, and no doubt a number of the retailers involved will be waiting anxiously for the votes to be totted up. There are three categories in the competition, as follows:

• Best Dressed Independent Retailer
• Best Dressed Chain Store/Franchise
• Best Dressed Charity Shop

The scheme is intended to help improve the shopping experience in and around the High Street, especially over these few weeks when so much is going on in town. I'm sure that those River Festival visitors from further afield who have a wander through will be impressed by the array of window displays they find in Bedford! Again, thanks to all the retailers which have taken part, and of course who work so hard throughout the year to make their premises attracting and inviting, making for a more pleasant environment for everyone to enjoy.