The chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Safety Committee has hailed the work of businesses and public services in Mansfield, which has resulted in the town centre achieving a prestigious accreditation for its commitment to public safety.

Mansfield town centre has been awarded a Purple Flag, a national award which recognises excellence in the management of town and city centres at night.

A series of measures including free wi-fi, street pastors, marshalls, new powers to crackdown on drunken behaviour and nights of action have been introduced by partners including the Police, Mansfield Association of Licensed Venues, Mansfield BID, Mansfield Partnership Against Crime and Mansfield District Council.

Nottinghamshire County Council has played it’s part too, improving street lighting, bringing in new evening traffic regulations, introducing a range of security features at Mansfield’s new bus station and helping introduce a gating order at a site synonymous with anti-social behaviour.

And Councillor Glynn Gilfoyle, chairman of the Community Safety Committee, said further improvements were on the way soon.

He said, “We recently agreed to fund a new scheme, Best Bar None, which will help further raise standards in licensed premises throughout Nottinghamshire and will be launching very soon in Mansfield.

“The scheme will further strengthen the excellent work carried out in managing Mansfield town centre in an evening – creating a safer, vibrant and fun environment for the thousands of people who enjoy the town’s theatre, bars and restaurants every week.

“The purple flag award is thoroughly deserved and is testament to the work by all the organisations and individuals involved in making Mansfield tick at night.”