The St Albans City Centre Partnership (CCP) has appointed Richard Marrett as the new city centre manager for St Albans.

With over 14 years in the service industry, Richard spent three years as general manager of St Michael’s Manor Hotel in St Albans prior to taking on this role.

The appointment will kick-start the many initiatives identified by the CCP.

The CCP is a business-led partnership between the private and public sector within the city centre.

Its aim is to forge a strong sense of community by engaging with all interested groups to set an agenda for improvement and to encourage a unified approach in finding local solutions to local issues.

Richard said: “I am very proud to have been appointed this role for the city.

“St. Albans is a fantastic city with so much to offer our businesses, residents and visitors alike and I look forward to the challenges ahead in enhancing the city centre further.”

Once established, a key objective of the CCP will be to develop and manage a Business Improvement District (BID) scheme for St Albans within the next three years.

A BID is a defined geographical area within which the businesses agree to invest money to manage and enhance their trading environment.

Richard has also been an active member of St Albans Chamber of Commerce and the St Albans Visitor Partnership to increase visitor numbers to the district.

He explained: “I hope to be able to build on the strong foundations already built by both partnerships to work together with both the private and public sector in order to achieve our aims and objectives.”

Phil Corrigan, manager of the Maltings Shopping Centre said: “This is an important development in how we manage and present St Albans, a city of this stature should have a city centre manager.

“Given his background and contacts I am sure Richard will bring together the various business interests to the benefit of all and I look forward to working with him.”

The CCP is looking to work with other like-minded groups and individuals and gain support from the business community in order to replicate other successful schemes already in place in cities around the UK.

Over 60 retailers have already committed to joining the CCP, including support from St Albans district council. Richard will be talking to other businesses about the benefits of joining the CCP in order to improve the experience for all who live in, work in or visit the city.

Richard Cohen, interim chairman of CCP and owner of Eternity Jewellers, added: “This is a real opportunity for the community of St Albans to come together and define its own legacy.”