ALTON has taken the ambitious step of entering this year’s Great British High Street Awards.

And Alton business development manager Julie McLatch believes the town is in with a good chance of winning.

She said: “The work towards improving the town centre has been ongoing, and the results have been tangible – the number of empty units has decreased and footfall during the summer months has increased.”

She believes that the two categories entered: the Champion Award and the Rising Star Award, “both encapsulate the ethos of the town”.

Submissions are expected to focus on contributions by the community, customer experience, environment, digital transformation, leadership, impact and innovation.

Ms McLatch said: “With the joining together of the major groups in Alton under the town team umbrella, the local community has a far stronger voice and has been working together with the county, district and town councils to improve the appearance of the High Street.

Specsavers and Sainsbury’s are just two of a number of local businesses who support local events. Both members of the town team, a business-led organisation comprising Alton’s main business and residential groups, whose primary aim is to help promote the town to visitors and new businesses, Sandra Milburn of Specsavers and Debby Bridger from Sainsbury’s were on hand to represent the part of the award focusing on businesses and community working together.

They said of Alton’s bid for recognition: “We are very proud of Alton – the amount of events that we support throughout the year has increased considerably over the years, and the number of people attending has grown as well.”

The awards are a government-backed scheme, and local MP Damian Hinds came to Alton to support the submission. He said: “I’m delighted that Alton is going to be entered in this year’s Great British High Street Awards, as it is a town full of ambition and community spirit. Local business groups and councils have been working extremely hard to bring a greater vibrancy to the high street, and I applaud their efforts.

“High streets are an important part of local life, and we’re fortunate to have such an active group of retail chains and independents here in Alton.”

Graham Hill, town and district councillor said: “The council’s initiatives of retail improvement grants, digital training and our plans for town-wide wi-fi all help the town to further develop the sociable events hub it has always been.”

The application will be submitted before the deadline on August 22 and the winners will be announced on November 14.