ALTON Town Council has issued an open invitation to members of the business community and their customers to attend a forum next week.

To take place from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Alton Assembly Rooms next Wednesday (March 15), the forum will provide an opportunity for anyone with ideas on how to help improve the town to air their views.

This is the second in a series of public engagement evenings hosted by Alton Town Council and follows on from the initial open council forum meeting last October.

The evening will start with light refreshments and networking before Alton mayor Matthew Bayliss opens the event on behalf of the town council. There will then be a presentation from town business development manager Julie McLatch, accompanied by town clerk Leah Coney, who will address the forum giving details of the holistic approach being taken by both district and town council in respect of the development of business and enhancing the local economy.

The evening will then be given over to a workshop session in small groups to enable attendees to talk to experts about their ideas and how these can help shape the town’s prosperity. Proceedings will be rounded off with a summary plenary session, concluding at 8.30pm.

To attend, e-mail [email protected].