From left, Primark manager Duncan Peat, winner Jackie Mead and Tracey Parry

The eighth annual Stevenage Shopper Survey has been completed and a lucky shopper has reason to celebrate.

Jackie Mead, of Stevenage, was presented last week with Primark shopping vouchers worth £200 by Tracey Parry, Stevenage town centre manager, and Duncan Peat, store manager at Primark.

The survey featured in the Comet on March 6, and Mrs Mead was the first name drawn from nearly 300 completed surveys. Further prizes of £150 and £50 Westgate shopping vouchers were presented to Holly Hollyoak, from Biggleswade, and Adrian Mann, from Stevenage.

The results of the survey will be used to help shape the priorities for action by the Stevenage Town Centre Management Company - a partnership between businesses in Stevenage and the local authority committed to developing and improving Stevenage town centre.

Comet readers were asked for their views on issues such as cleanliness, planting, car parking, the range of shops and ease of access.

Tracey Parry said: "The views of the people who use Stevenage town centre are extremely important to us.

"The information collected is then used to help us improve and promote the town centre to encourage a vibrant and commercial viable shopping destination.

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Building a Brighter Future for Children

Events and activities within Stevenage Town Centre provided an added benefit to visitors throughout 2007. As well as enhancing the shopping experience, nearly £4,500 was raised by the Stevenage Town Centre Management Company for its Charity of the Year, Sue Ryder Care.

Although the Initiative has raised money for charity in the past, this was the first time the organisation focussed on one charity for a 12-month period. “We were delighted by the generosity of Stevenage people, who contributed to our chosen charity at events such as the Caribbean Pirate Party and the Christmas Lights Switch-on”, said Town Centre Manager Tracey Parry.

Following this success, the Stevenage Town Centre Management Company want to keep up the good work and do the same again this year. Their chosen charity for 2008 will be Building Blocks, which raises money for babies, children and teens cared for by hospitals, including Lister, QEII, Hertford County and the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.

“We wanted to support our local hospital as well as those families and children who are in need of treatment, whether this is in A&E, the special care baby unit or children who are chronically sick and need specialist equipment in their own homes”, said Tracey. “The majority of events and activities the Town Centre Management team organises throughout the year are geared towards families so we thought this charity would be an ideal choice and a great way to engage the support of the local community”.

Suzanne Roynon, Fundraiser for Enhance Herts and the Building Blocks appeal, said “We are thrilled to be involved with the Stevenage Town Centre Management team and all the stores and companies who take part and sponsor these events during the year. We know how much the people of Stevenage and the surrounding area enjoys and benefit from this type of activity in the town centre and we are pleased to be a part of it”.

Stevenage Town Centre’s first event for the Building Blocks charity will be the annual Pancake Race on Tuesday 5 February. Teams from local schools will compete first at 10am and then town centre shops, including co-organisers Specsavers, will go head to head in a bid to batter the opposition and be crowned winners of the 2008 Stevenage Pancake Race. The Thunders from 97.6 Chiltern Radio will be linking live to the station, as they encourage the runners and shoppers can cheers on the teams from the sidelines. Join us from 10am and help us kick-start our 2008 charity appeal for Building Blocks. For further information, contact the town centre team on 01438 740884.