Although Corby Town FC may not have walked away with a winning score at Luton last night (Wednesday 17th November 2010), just down the road in Milton Keynes it was a different story as Corby snapped up two of the four awards handed out at the Milton Keynes South Midlands (MKSM) Excellence Awards.
The Parkland Gateway project, which includes the Corby East Midlands International Pool and newly opened Corby Cube, was the first to give the Borough something to celebrate as it was announced the winner of the Greatest Future Potential Award out of the nine shortlisters.
Parkland Gateway was highlighted as a project that epitomises the scale and boldness of the changes to the face of Corby and as a vital part of the Borough’s regeneration to encourage further investment in the town. Representatives from Corby Borough Council and North Northants Development Company (NNDC) were presented with the award.
The project includes funding from Corby Borough Council, East Midlands Development Agency, the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the Arts Council and Northamptonshire County Council in partnership with the North Northants Development Company.
Simon Evans, Chief Executive of NNDC, said:
‘Parkland Gateway has, and will continue to be, the catalyst for further inward investment in and around Corby town centre. The high quality of the buildings that have delivered through this project reflects the ambition of the town and its partners and fully deserves this recognition.’
The next award to come Corby’s way was the Special Recognition Award for regeneration which was given to the Corby Urban Oasis project. This project was initiated by Corby Learning Partnership and Corby Borough Council in May 2006 from which time work has been taking place to restore the Eskdale Avenue Allotments from a vacant, overgrown, flytipping hot spot back to their former glory.
The area is now a safe, usable community and school resource which helps the Borough meet the increasing demand for allotment space and helps to tackle health and well-being targets within local schools.
Both of these awards came just days after the Council was also awarded the Green Apple Environment Award 2010 for the amazing work done through the Deep Clean 2010 project related to the woodland management of Thoroughsale and Hazelwood.
Over the last year Corby Borough Council and The Friends of Thoroughsale and Hazelwood, in partnership with Kier Street Services, community groups and local schools have cleared over 25 tonnes of rubbish from the area and held public events such as coppicing to bring the woodlands back to being a safe and beautiful environment for all to enjoy. This project has been supported by funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
Corby Borough Council was presented as a Gold winner at The House of Commons in London at The Green Organisation’s carbon-neutral presentation ceremony on Monday 15th November.
Leader of Corby Borough Council, Cllr Pat Fawcett, said:
‘Well what can I say, it is another great week for Corby in which we can all celebrate the continued success of the Borough and be proud of what we are achieving.
‘All of the projects that have been announced as winners are a result of partnership working and I would like to thank all of the organisations, community groups and members of the public for their contributions and shared vision of a bigger, better, brighter Corby.’