Why dozens of buildings are turning purple this month

6 hours ago

Mae DavageGloucestershire

Multiple buildings will be lit up in purple this month

BBC Mr Cambrays Curiosity in Cheltenham, lit up purple from hidden lights on their balcony. There are two umbrellas in front of the building and string light bulbs wound around the railings of the building. — Multiple buildings will be lit up in purple this month

Dozens of buildings are being lit up in a purple glow this month to celebrate a big accolade.

Throughout October, the colour is being projected onto buildings to promote that an area has achieved The Purple Flag accreditation, which Cheltenham has been part of for 11 years.

It is handed to places across the UK and Ireland that excel in safety, diversity, cleanliness and vibrancy in evening and night-time experiences.

Councillor Jamie Jamieson, Cheltenham Borough Council's lead for communities, said the accreditation proves that "we can offer vibrant nightlife while making sure our town is safe for everyone".

Fraudster admits child sexual abuse offences

'Unsinkable' man's watch offers insight into shipwrecks

New buyer set to purchase Gloucestershire Airport

For more than a decade, the council has worked with police and the Business Improvement District (BID) to boost safety for people at night.

However a lot of the difference, Jamieson said, is made by the way the venues themselves operate, positioning themselves as a "safe place" for those who need it.

"The training that goes into this is so important so that the staff in these venues know exactly what to do," he said.

"They recognise situations up ahead, they're calm and they know how to respond."

Steve Burrows, owner of Mr Cambrays Curiosity, says it is important people feel safe

A bald man with a long dark beard is looking directly into the camera. He is wearing a dark jacket and a light blue shirt underneath. Behind him is a room that is out of focus but visibly lit up purple. — Steve Burrows, owner of Mr Cambrays Curiosity, says it is important people feel safe

Mr Cambrays Curiosity is one of the venues in Cheltenham that is lighting up in purple through October to honour Purple Flag Awareness Month.

"A lot of my business is female-led and I need my customers to feel safe to venture into town and to come to my venue," he said.

"We need to make sure that Cheltenham is safe year-round for its local residents and any visitors who come to the town."

Grace and Daisy, who are both 18 and from Cheltenham, said they feel safe in town on nights out.

"There's always police and bouncers around who are usually quite good and people will come over and check on you, so I think it's quite safe," said Grace.

"Cheltenham's not huge so a lot of people sort of roughly know each other already, so it's always nice that they'll come and check on you," added Daisy.

However, Tanya Buxton, who also lives in Cheltenham, feels that the town has become less safe over the years.

"I own a local business and we see a lot of shoplifting, and a lot of police vans and fights," she said.

"I'm originally from the East Midlands and I always felt that Cheltenham is a safe place to live but it's definitely started to feel less safe, particularly in areas like the High Street."

Julie Reader-Sullivan, BID's chief executive, said the authority wanted people of all ages to feel that they can walk through the town safely and that is done through "monitoring and the ongoing question of how can we do things better and differently".

Local authorities have to reapply yearly for the accreditation to ensure that they are continuously working to keep their cities and towns safe, which Jamieson said the council has already begun working on for 2027.

"We continue to develop our strategy to make sure Cheltenham remains a safe, enjoyable, diverse and friendly place to be," he added.

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.