ALTON and District Residents’ Associations is marking its second year of operation with an energetic new initiative to encourage the creation of new residents’ groups in and around the town.

The East Hampshire town already has many successful residents’ groups and associations which share similar aims in respect of doing the best for the town, as well as their own particular neighbourhoods.

Alton and District Residents’ Associations is an affiliation of those associations and groups and is committed to encouraging the formation of further associations in areas that are not presently covered.

According to chairman John Grace, the community body feels that all new groups can benefit from the experience already gained by the more established organisations.

When it was founded in 2014, Alton and District Residents’ Associations received modest but welcome financial help from Alton Town Council. More recently, further substantial grants have been made available by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) and Hampshire County Council courtesy of discretionary awards from councillors Graham Hill and Andrew Joy respectively.

The organisation will be using this money, in the first instance, to target residents in the Greenfields, Ashdell, Windmill Hill and ‘Racecourse’ areas in order to encourage and assist with the formation of their own residents’ associations.

This help will include leafleting residents with information about residents’ associations as well as the funding of initial setting-up costs for emerging organisations.

Alton and District Residents’ Associations intends to expand this initiative in future and welcomes approaches from groups of residents anxious to form their own associations.

Mr Grace said: “Thanks to the recent grants, Alton and District Residents’ Associations will now be able to allocate funds to help people to get together as residents’ associations to address specific issues that affect their community, such as litter, transport, crime and planning.”

In launching the residents’ associations recruitment initiative, he added: “By working together residents can have more influence with service providers and policy-makers to get what you need for your area. Residents’ associations are inclusive, friendly groups that promote a sense of community by encouraging neighbours to act together.

“Alton and District Residents’ Associations will give you guidance about how to go about forming your own group and advise about sources of funding.”

Since its inception, Alton and District Residents’ Associations has established firm connections with other community groups in the town. Town council leader Peter Hicks was a guest speaker at a recent meeting and Alton and District Residents’ Associations enjoys a useful working relationship with the town hall.

Future plans for Alton and District Residents’ Associations are said to include the forming of a sub-committee to scrutinise the future of healthcare provision in the town, the roll-out of more residents’ associations, and ensuring that all Alton’s residents have a voice and a stake in initiatives that enhance the quality of life in the town.