Town has gained confidence in its future with logo (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Town has gained confidence in its future with logo

6:00pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News By Tarik Al Rasheed

A TOWN once one of the most flooded in England is ready to write itself a bright new chapter.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin visited Upton to have a look at some of the initiatives going on to boost the town’s economy following the completion of a new £4.5m flood defence scheme.

Worcestershire County Council is currently spending £400,000 on improving roads and pavements in the town centre, a new tourist information centre has opened up alongside the heritage centre in the historic Pepperpot and the waterside Kings Head pub, which has been empty for almost six months, is set to re-open its doors before Easter.

Mrs Baldwin said she was particularly impressed with the efforts of traders and local officials to develop a new “brand image” for the town.

The branding, which has been developed with students from the University of Worcester, has been on display for residents and will be used in promotional material as well as by businesses and shopkeepers.

“This new Upton logo will go a long way to help present a fresh face for the town and I am sure it will look great in posters, merchandise and even paper bags,”

Mrs Baldwin said.

News of the Kings Head reopening has come as particular relief to people in Upton.

Town councillor Mike Ostick said: “It is good news for Upton that it is going to re-open “The Kings Head is in a very prominent position on our great new riverside walk and the last thing that we wanted was a big ‘to let’ sign right in the middle of it.”

Former landlord Grahame Bunn, who left last year to concentrate on his other town business, The Anchor Inn, added: “It will be very good to see the Kings Head open again.”

Mrs Baldwin said all the signs pointed to a town “well and truly on the up and showing all the signs of a community with confidence about its future”.

“Upton is showing renewed confidence now the persistent flood problems have been resolved,”

she said. “It is clear that a new chapter is opening up for the town and I hope we have a great summer of festivals to help local businesses to benefit.”