Derby retains Purple Flag status for another year

Derby City Council has announced that the city has retained its Purple Flag status, following a visit by assessors.

The team of assessors judged Derby on its night-time offering, covering a variety of categories around safety and welcome.

In Derby, volunteers and staff work together to ensure the safety of visitors to the city.

People including street pastors, taxi marshals, licensing officers, police, door staff, ambulance crews and CCTV operators, all work together in partnership to make Derby a Purple Flag city.

Councillor Matthew Eyre, the city council’s cabinet member for community development, place and tourism, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that we have retained our Purple Flag status for another year, as no doubt are businesses across our city centre.

“Our continued retention of this prestigious accreditation is true testament to the immense amount of hard work that goes on behind the scenes to keep our night-time economy safe and thriving.

“With the effects and impacts of coronavirus still being felt all over the world, it’s more important than ever that we have this fantastic network and pro-active collaborative partnership of all those involved in making Derby a safe place to enjoy a night out.”

Among the aspects praised by assessors was strong joint working between the council and partners, including the taxi marshal service, Pubwatch, Street Pastors and Derbyshire Constabulary, as well as the help and support of the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).

Martin Langsdale, chair of the Cathedral Quarter BID, said: “The evening economy in Derby is largely focused within the Cathedral Quarter, which is the leisure and cultural heart of the city centre.

“Retaining Purple Flag status is something that our businesses and the whole of Derby should quite rightly be proud of as it reflects the safe and diverse nature of the evening economy in the city centre.

“This accreditation is particularly important in these challenging times as we move out of lockdown and are working hard to encourage people back into the city centre in a socially distanced and responsible way.”

Helen Wathall, chair of the St Peters Quarter BID, said: “St Peters Quarter has worked closely with Derby City Council, Derbyshire Police and other key partners to improve the attractiveness of the area and to ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable evening out in the city.

“These were both crucial aspects in helping secure Purple Flag status for Derby, and we are delighted with the announcement.”