England’s country towns, a focus for rural life, have a timeless and iconic appeal. But the rich heritage of our towns is a varied one, ranging from traditional market towns serving the surrounding agricultural area to former mill towns which prospered in the first wave of industrialisation.

Towns have always adapted to changing times – but the pace of change has accelerated and many towns now struggle to cope with similar problems: bank and post office closures; concentration of services in larger towns; the decline of traditional shopping centres in the face of out of town shopping parks; the ending of many manufacturing industries and lack of new jobs; the lure of large cities which leave many towns as dormitories.

But initiatives to regenerate town centres are now widespread in every region with local partnerships revitalising market towns.  The government recognises the importance of market towns as sustainable rural communities and the focus for economic, social and environmental regeneration in rural areas. The National Market Town Awards are an important showcase for what can be achieved by such effective market town regeneration programmes.

Action for Market Towns, working with Regional Development Agencies and Regional Market Town Forums, is delighted to be able to promote the 2008 National Market Towns Awards – this year in association with the international news agency The Press Association as media partners. 

This award scheme gives recognition to the dedication and hard work that is showing results across England and encourages others to follow these examples.