Portas win was a community effort

to be the community lead on the winning Portas Pilot bid for Old Town Leamington.

Bath Place has a long and historical relationship with Old Town and we are looking forward to pushing some of the great ideas through and helping to engage the community in what we hope will be the start of something very positive for years to come.

We would like to thank our fellow voluntary organisations WCAVA and Action 21 who wrote in support of the bid and also Woodhouse Signage of Leamington Spa whose extraordinarily generous contributions towards advice, design and installation of lighting and signage which will be implemented at key locations throughout.

A huge congratulations must go to all of the members and advisors of the team who worked extraordinarily hard over a very short period of time to bring as many voices into the conversation and put together a great video in record time.

Bigger salutations are in order for our fearless bid leader Jeremy Ireland whose energy and imagination inspired us all and whose excellent submission to the scheme was the reason above all others, that we were chosen.

To be picked among 15 out of over 400 towns nationwide is an extraordinary achievement and we should all give ourselves a well deserved pat on the back while also pledging to stay focused on the hard work to come.

We’re looking forward to the Clemens Street celebration on August 11 and will be announcing a meeting to be held at the Old Library of all who are interested in getting involved in the project very soon. - Clayton Denwood, Site Supervisor, Bath Place Community Venture, the Old Library, Leamington.