Hopes for business boost if Huntingdon crowned UK Town of Culture
The town is one of two in the county that's shown an interest
A business in Huntingdon believes the UK Town of Culture competition will act as a much-needed boost to the local economy.
The Huntingdon Business Improvement District and the Town Council have been working on an application to put forward to the Government.
It's the second Cambridgeshire town to show an interest in the contest as St Neots is also bidding to win the title.
"I think we will have more products come in for what people need; it could make the shops expand to accommodate for more people coming into the town," Charlotte Davenport, of health food shop Grape Tree, said.
"It will boost the economic drive; a lot of shops were closing and it would be nice to have different restaurants, giving the opportunity for different types of food which I think is lovely."
'Really good' for business
The UK's first Town of Culture will receive £3 million and a chance to showcase itself on the national stage by hosting cultural events throughout 2028.
It follows on from the City of Culture award, which Peterborough is hoping to become in 2029.
Charlotte has been working at Grape Tree in Huntingdon town centre for the last three years, and has seen the population of Huntingdon grow since she moved to the area.
"It's bringing business to Huntingdon, different shops are opening, different cultures, the unemployment goes down, so I think it's (Town of Culture award) a really good thing," she added.
BID Huntingdon has said the town "is home to a strong, welcoming, and hugely diverse community, including a breadth of international communities who bring new perspectives around creativity and traditions with energy.
"This diversity strengthens our cultural life, making Huntingdon inclusive and dynamic."
Mixed views on Town of Culture
The Government hopes the Town of Culture contest will improve pride amongst communities for where they live and more participation in cultural activities.
Roger Worgan lives in Huntingdon and supports the move.
"I think it's a good idea; we don't have much culture in Huntingdon, so I think it would be useful to have more community events," he said.
"High streets in general are decaying, so if we had something more cultural, it would attract more people into the town, the more money they spend and hopefully the more developed the town gets."
While another passer-by told us she hadn't heard of the initiative.
"It doesn't mean anything (to me); I don't come to Huntingdon very often and I can't see there's much else here apart from the museum," she said.
Towns have until March 31 to put forward an expression of interest for the Town of Culture, before the finalists and the winner are due to be announced early next year.