PROPRIETORS and community group leaders beamed with civic pride after an awards presentation.
Chester Civic Trust presented their annual ‘good, the bad and the ugly' honours to developments and projects nominated by members.
Urban and rural winners joined in the celebration last week, with the village of Tarvin boasting three individual champions in various categories.
Also taking centre stage at the Bishop Lloyd’s Palace event was recently built Saughall All Saints CofE Primary School which received the Chairman’s Special Award.
The school, created after the amalgamation of Thomas Wedge Juniors and The Ridings Infants, was described as an exemplary design incorporating the highest standards of energy efficiency and sustainability.
In Tarvin, the Gunnery development earned a ‘good’ award for its building renovations on High Street.
The project includes a deli/restaurant, cottages, office and retail units.
Architect Peter Wright, of Matrec Developments, said: “There has been tremendous support from people who have visited the site and have commented particularly on the attention to detail and high quality finishes.”
Tarvin Community Woodland received an ‘open spaces’ award after being described as an inspirational voluntary project involving thousands of man-hours of work by villagers, conceived and led by chairman Jim Grogan.
Owners of Apple Bathrooms also triumphed for Tarvin after their restoration and renovation work of the High Street premises was described as a welcome enhancement of the conservation area in accordance with Tarvin’s Village Design Statement.
Gunnery owners had double reason to celebrate after their new business venture at the Ship Inn, Handbridge, gained an award for its building renovation.
Owner Sally Harris, who runs both businesses with husband Davin, said: “We have also opened a private dining room for functions and we have an award-winning micro brewery. We have received some great reviews from CAMRA.”
Commendations were awarded to Delikate Edens of Handbridge and Snapdragon florists for their attractive shop displays.
The Commercial Hotel in St Peter’s Churchyard was commended for its building renovation and was described as one of Chester’s hidden gems.
The building extension of the Victorian Trafford House, Queens Park, on the River Dee, also won an award while Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chester Renaissance’s open spaces project Petal Power gained a commendation for its floral bicycle displays.
Maintenance of the city’s guttering and downpipes received criticism from Civic Trust judges while advertising boards were said to be cluttering the streets.
But the ‘ugly’ awards were reserved for Forest Court in union Street which was described as a poor addition to the townscape around Grosvenor Park, while the unused site at Linenhall Stables, off Nicholas Street, was called an 'unsightly eyesore'.
Chester Civic Trust vice president Stephen Langtree said: “This is the fourth time that we have presented our New Year Honours to people whose personal skill and enthusiasm have produced schemes which improve our local environment.
“We mention ‘the bad and ugly’ in the hope that some problems might be resolved, but our main objective is to recognise and celebrate the good things that people are doing.”
