Owner Joe Gambarini was nominated by the BID for VISA's Great British High Street Awards and has been shortlisted for the 'Great British High Street Hero' award

The owner of one of Pontypridd’s longest established small business Joe Gambarini is one of 12 people in the UK to have been shortlisted for a High Street Hero Awards for 2018.

The High Street Hero is a UK Award that’s part of the Great British High Street initiative and is sponsored by the Daily Mirror to recognise those unsung heroes of our high streets who run great initiatives and programmes to improve the high street experience for all.

Joe Gambarini was nominated for his role in setting up the Your Pontypridd Business Improvement District and initiating the Digital Information and Advertising Screen that the BID will shortly be installing in Taff Street in the town centre as part of an effort to enhance the appearance of the town and help advertise town centre businesses and events in the town.

He was nominated by the local Business Improvement District and your Pontypridd BID Manager Victoria Pulman said ‘Its great that Joe Gambarini has been shortlisted for the High Street Hero Award and is getting national recognition of his work with the BID and his continued passion for Pontypridd’s residents and businesses.

It would be great for Joe to win, his Café is at the heart of town and he’d love to see the community coming together and showcase the town and we’d all help him celebrate in style.’

The High Street Hero Awards winner gets £5,000 for an event in their local high street and the winner will be announced before the 20th October 2018.

The Award was part of an entry by Your Pontypridd BID in the Great British High Street Awards and as part of that scheme there are ten small businesses taking part in the spend £10 with Visa Card and win a £100 every week until November.

Mr Gambarini was interviewed by the Daily Mirror along with the other nominees and would like to clarify quotes attributed to him in the newspaper about Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council on 18th September.

Mr Gambarini said ‘ The BID worked in partnership with the local Council Rhondda Cyon Taf CBC who as the newspaper stated didn’t back down to introduce the £1 parking. The £1 parking came from lobbying and partnership working between the BID and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Lead by Cllr Andrew Morgan who introduced £1 all day parking in Pontypridd and Aberdare town centres in long stay car parks on Saturday's, it’s an initiative that continues to help drive footfall into Pontypridd on weekends. '

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