Bishop’s Stortford Awarded Prestigious Purple Flag Status
Bishop’s Stortford BID is delighted to announce the town centre has officially been awarded Purple Flag accreditation by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM).
Purple Flag, established in the UK and now recognised internationally, highlights towns and city centres that offer a vibrant, safe and well-managed evening and night-time economy. Often described as the nightlife equivalent of the Blue Flag award for beaches, the accreditation recognises destinations that provide visitors and residents with a high-quality experience after dark.
The award follows a year of intensive work, which included training for businesses and the development of enhanced safety initiatives, night audits, a paperwork submission in January and overnight visit from assessors on 6th and 7th March.
Madeleine Lees, joint manager at the BID said the achievement is “a fantastic accolade and one for the whole town to be proud of and celebrate.”
Purple Flag is a key deliverable in the BID’s 5-year business plan, developed in conjunction with the businesses. The successful application, led by the BID with the support of night-time economy specialists Urban Spark Group, reflects the strong partnership working with Town, District and County Councils, Councillors, Hertfordshire Police, East Herts Police, Street Stewards, Street Pastors and local businesses. The process has been strongly supported throughout by Jonathan-Ash Edwards, Police & Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, and Josh Dean MP.
Purple Flag status is awarded to locations that meet strict standards in areas including:
- Public safety and wellbeing
- Transport and accessibility
- Diversity of entertainment and hospitality
- Cleanliness and appearance
- Effective partnership working between businesses, councils and police
The award is proven to bring a range of benefits to local people and businesses, including:
More visitors and spending
All businesses can benefit because the town is promoted as a safe and attractive night destination
A safer town centre at night
Lighting, policing, transport, cleanliness, customer care, and how safely people can get home are assessed
Lower anti-social behaviour and crime
The programme helps reduce disorder through cooperation between police, councils, venues and local groups
A broader nightlife than just drinking
Towns are encouraged to offer a variety of experiences including arts, family entertainment, cafés, live music and a good selection of food options, alongside more traditional drinking venues
Better reputation and investment
The award can improve the town’s image and encourage regeneration and investment
Work will continue, with the award reviewed annually and further improvements already planned. Since the assessment, the BID has confirmed they will continue funding the Street Stewards after a successful trial running from December 2025 to March 2026.
Other upcoming initiatives include:
- Additional safety training for businesses
- New lighting schemes
- Expansion of the Town Link radio network
- Installation of extra CCTV cameras
- Launch of the ShopSafe Alert system for real-time crime intelligence sharing
Karen Burton, joint manager at the BID said: “We are incredibly proud that Bishop’s Stortford has achieved Purple Flag status. This award recognises the dedication and collaboration of stakeholders across the town centre who are working tirelessly to make our town centre welcoming, safe and enjoyable for everyone.”
“The Town Council was delighted to support the BID in its Purple Flag application and equally delighted that, working in partnership, this has now been achieved. This award recognises the night-time safety of the town to be of an extremely high standard. Our Town Council recognises that for a thriving local economy, Bishop's Stortford relies on attracting residents and visitors to shop, eat, and drink at local businesses. We sincerely hope the Purple Flag will encourage more visitors
Examples of how the Council has supported the scheme include our continued financial investment in town centre CCTV infrastructure, to monitor public spaces, funding dedicated taxi marshals, to guarantee safe transit options during busy weekend hours, and driving forward targeted infrastructure improvements to maximize safety along the River Stort where it flows through the town centre.” – Cllr Miriam Swainston, Leader of Bishop’s Stortford Town Council.