UPDATE ROYSTON F1RST UPDATE | SPRING 2022
Do you want to be a plastic free champion? The Royston Environmental Group was formed in 2020 and set out a number of objectives to support a more sustainable future for Royston and the surrounding villages.
What’s in store for 2022?
A Plastic Free Royston initiative, which is part of a national campaign across the UK, is being run by the group to work towards a “plastic free” status. If you want to be a “plastic free champion” all you have to do is remove THREE items of single-use plastic from everyday use. Royston is very close to being accredited as a Plastic Free Town now, so please support this initiative if you can and help to reduce single-use plastics.
Visit roystonenvironmentalgroup.org.uk for more information
Jobs Page Do you have a job you want to advertise locally?
Social Media Masterclass Look out for our social media training webinar that will be available to all premises-based businesses in March. Digital communications have obviously increased during the pandemic, with businesses using social media much more, so we want to offer some online training to support businesses that want to take the next step with social media. Make sure you are members of the WhatsApp group, the Facebook business group, or send us your email address to receive communications via email. To register your interest please contact us at info@roystonfirst.com for more information.
Check out our new jobs page on the Royston Town website at www.roystontown.uk. If you are a premises-based business in Royston, you will be able to advertise your jobs on the Royston Town website, which has up to 3,000 visitors a month. If you would like to advertise your job vacancies, please email your job description over to us at info@roystonfirst.com
02 Royston First | UPDATE
Christmas in Royston 2021 Festive window decorations
Christmas Elf Trail
The town had a lovely Christmas feel in December, partly due to the stunning Christmas window decorations.
The children’s Christmas trail also started in December and ran for two weeks. The town was visited by lots of children who had to search the town centre for the twelve naughty elves hidden in the shop windows. The trails are always popular, and lots of children entered the competition, increasing footfall into the town.
Bespoke Signs were again in Royston and decorated 25 business windows. Year on year, this has got more popular, so apologies to the businesses that were unable to get their windows painted. In order to help prevent disappointment next year, we are already collating requests from businesses. We have to book Bespoke Signs by September, as it is obviously his busiest time, so please let us know if you would like to have your windows painted this year and that will give us a better idea of how much time to book with him.
Congratulations to the winners of our Christmas Elf Trail
The winner was very excited to receive the Christmas hamper donated by Ladds. The family ticket to the Royston pantomime at King James Academy was cancelled due to Covid, but the winner will now be going to the Jolly Postie for a family meal instead. A big thank you once again to all the shops that took part in the trail, and thanks to Ladds for donating the Christmas hamper of treats enjoyed by the winners!
Contact us at info@roystonfirst.com to be added to the list.
Christmas lights ‘switch on’! Christmas was full of festivities, kicking off with the official turning on of the Christmas lights in the town centre. This was a test event, and due to its success, plans are already being worked on to improve it next year. Together with the Town Council, we are investigating the possibility of putting new lights in Fish Hill Square and planning how we can make the event even bigger and better. The evening was only a success due to the “behind the scenes” collaboration of so many people, including Royston Town Council, North Herts Council and Sparkx who
installed the lights. We also have to thank the shops for their input, particularly those that stayed open during the event, the police in the run up and on the night of the event, and the Reed Choir, who entertained us with a wide range of carols. People that attended the event were really grateful for the complimentary refreshments. Thanks to the very generous gesture of the Manor House for providing pizza and hot beverages to all the visitors who
came to the event. It was very unexpected and wonderful, and well received by all members of the public. A final thank you to Johnson Matthey for their sponsorship and support during Christmas. We have had such great feedback following the event that we are already looking forward to next year.
Keep up-to-date with all future trails and activities Follow us on Facebook @roystonfirst
Find us on Instagram @roystonfirst
Visit our website www.roystonfirst.com or scan the QR Code
Coming soon!
Look out for our next children’s trail, which is over Easter from the 9th to the 18th of April.
Royston First | UPDATE 03
Maps to estate agents
Royston Videos
The Royston town map is being updated to show the new developments around the town, and over the next few months, the new maps will be distributed to the estate agents in the town.
Just before the Christmas break, we released two videos to highlight the very best of Royston.
Copies will also be available in the library.
We shared the Royston Come Together video to feature all the great places to explore, discover and experience in the town to create footfall in the town.
The Royston Information Centre
We also updated the eatery video to include all the new eateries that have joined the town since 2019, when the previous video was filmed. The updated video can be found on the Royston Town website - give it a watch!
Now that the worst of the Covid pandemic seems to be behind us, the Royston Information Centre has reopened and is being stocked with information leaflets about Royston, including the business directory, town trail guides and general information leaflets.
Don’t forget to share the video. It would be great to have the town interact with the video and support all the local eateries.
Royston Picture Palace The Picture Palace goes from strength to strength with a programme of films coming up this Spring. Opera buffs also have a treat in store, with a screening of Rigoletto in March and La Traviata in April. For more information, see their website roystonpicturepalace.org.uk
OUT NOW Request your copy today
Scratchcards Business Directory All the premises-based businesses are listed on the Royston Town website, but this year we decided to go a step further and develop a pocketbook of businesses which was delivered to all houses in the SG8 area. We have had fantastic feedback from businesses and members of the public, so we will be updating this every year. If you would like extra copies to give out, please contact us at info@roystonfirst.com
We’re delighted to announce that we have extended the scratchcard scheme to town centre businesses. The scheme is continuing for all industrial estate businesses so please contact us if you would like more supplies. Request a pack of 25 FREE scratchcards to give out to your customers. If you haven’t already, please request a pack of 25 One-Hour Free Parking scratchcards via email at info@roystonfirst.com
04 Royston First | UPDATE
The markets is open on Wednesdays & Saturdays from 8am to 3pm
MARKET MANAGER CORNER Royston Market is entering 2022 with a sense of optimism as, hopefully, the disruption caused by repeated lockdowns over the previous two years is behind us. It can now look to develop further, playing an integral part in the rejuvenation of the town generally. The market continues to build its reputation on excellent, high quality fresh produce, and there will be additional stalls starting to trade over the next month or so. New traders will include a fledgling pizza business offering pizzas made to order on a Saturday, a new cheese and charcuterie stall, and pitches offering home-made chutneys and preserves. These will be complementing long-standing food businesses - notably the large fruit and veg pitch which dominates the market square, the outstanding fishmonger and butcher, the popular baker providing
freshly made bread and cakes, and don’t forget the successful inclusion of street-food such as the weekend ‘pop-up’ cafe and authentic Mexican delicacies offered every Wednesday. The market is getting increasingly busy, so prospective traders wishing to join the market need to act quickly. Expressions of interest can be made to the market manager. Email markets@roystontowncouncil.gov.uk or call 01763 245484.
WHAT’S COMING UP?
Date for your diary!
We are planning to launch a campaign to “Keep Royston Tidy”.
As most of you will know, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is in June this year. On Sunday, June 5th, Royston is planning to hold a collaborative community event in Priory Gardens.
The council has implemented a number of dual-use recycling bins around the town and park, and we are currently working with NHDC to review the pigeon mess and debris on the streets. We are looking into further pigeon proofing measures and whether the gutters on the roofs of buildings can be cleaned to ensure less debris reaches the pavements.
The event is in the planning stages, but expect music, singing and dancing, lots of bunting and a great choice of food. The town will be decorated and, after the great success of the Halloween decorated windows, we will be hosting a window competition for all businesses in the town centre. It’s going to be a massive day of celebrations, so please let us know what you are planning so we can promote it across all our social media and communication channels. We will be letting you know about all our exciting plans over the next few weeks. Get planning and make sure you order your bunting early as demand is bound to be high!
DA SUN Y
5th JU NE
ROYSTON F1RST c/o Town Hall, Melbourn Street, Royston SG8 7DA 01763 878 242 info@roystonfirst.com Royston First www.roystonfirst.com
Our AGM will be on the 27th of April at 5.30pm, which will take place at the Town Hall, covid restrictions permitting.