SAFFRON Walden has won an award for its town centre improvements. The Saffron Walden Partnership Board scooped the National Market Towns East of England award for Partnership and Strategic Working . It was given for the improvements consisting: re-surfac

SAFFRON Walden has won an award for its town centre improvements.

The Saffron Walden Partnership Board scooped the National Market Towns East of England award for 'Partnership and Strategic Working'.

It was given for the improvements consisting: re-surfacing of Market Place, widening of pavements, lighting of the water fountain and fitting nine new seats, as well as providing additional disabled parking spaces, a permanent notice board at the town hall, fingerposts signs from the main arrival points in the town, and a new map holder and town centre maps at the town's visitor car parks.

Chairman of the partnership board, Catherine Flack, said: "This has been a wonderful example of partnership working and shows what our community can achieve when we work together and combine our talents and vision.

"Acknowledgement by National Market Towns is icing on the cake - the obvious reward is seeing the Market Square looking so good."

Mrs Flack reserved special thanks to architectural advisor John Ready, the board's project officer Sarah Saward and chairman of the Saffron Walden Town Centre Working Group, Cllr Alastair Walters.

The partnership board consists of representatives from, Saffron Walden Town Council, Saffron Walden Initiative, Uttlesford District Council and Essex County Council.

The �170,000 redevelopment of the Market Square was completed in May, two weeks ahead of schedule. However, the project was not without its controversy; market traders complained of a lack of footfall while being relocated to The Common during the eight-week works, while shops also claimed that their businesses suffered as a consequence of the works.