ALTON'S newly-formed town partnership has scored its first major success with a £100,000 award, to be used on initiatives to stimulate economic growth. The investment has been secured from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) small rural towns programme, with matched funding from East Hampshire District Council. The successful bid was made by the Alton Town Partnership's local economy working group, set up to address part of the "wish list" drawn up under the "Vision for Alton 2020" plan. The funding will enable the introduction of a local package of four linked improvement projects and activities: l The largest and most challenging project aims to promote the regeneration of the Mill Lane Industrial Estate through, among other initiatives, the creation and co-ordination of an effective business network. l Developing business networking more widely across the town to encourage partnering in competition for contracts and services across the region. l The delivery of a local business development package to further improve business competitiveness and recruitment of graduates within the town's enterprises. l A customer care training package to help improve the visitor experience of the town by providing training and development initiatives for the town's retail and hospitality businesses. According to EHDC economic development and tourism manager Mike Gibbs, the bid success recognises the importance of these services being locally based and easily accessible to Alton's enterprises and workforce. "The initiatives will enhance, not duplicate, existing regional programmes from agencies such as Business Link Wessex and the recently announced Rural Enterprise Gateway programme," said Mr Gibbs, who has high hopes for what could be the start of a major economic initiative. "The added value of this investment will be to act as a catalyst, to pump prime and engage other organisations to become involved, thereby establishing a local momentum and consensus for sustainable action over the longer term," he added. "A key feature is the local ownership of this programme by business and other stakeholders in Alton. To enable the programme to be delivered, it is expected that a local co-ordinator will be appointed." Details of this co-ordination role and also of the various contract packages for each of the four initiatives are currently in preparation and will be published by EHDC, which will be inviting bids from potential contractors. Details will also be posted on http://www.altontown.co.uk">www.altontown.co.uk to enable other organisations and individuals to access details and if appropriate, to submit bids. ATP chairman Chris McCallum told The Herald: "This bid was based on the priorities identified in the Alton Town Plan. Our success stands as testament to the hard work of the Vision for Alton steering group, the Chamber of Commerce, local business, local government and other agencies, all working in partnership. "The ATP is looking to build upon this example of effective partnership working to deliver the action priorities in the Town Plan, so that Alton becomes an even better place in which to live, work and visit." ATP local economy working party chairman Mike Baker commented: "This bid demonstrates the effectiveness of local businesses operating together through Alton Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Alton Initiatives Management Ltd (AIM). "This combination can now claim many successes with AIM acting as the delivery agent for projects such as the revitalising the Tuesday market and the promotion of Alton through the introduction of a high quality programme of town centre events. ACCI acts as the forum for local business issues and is instrumental in lobbying EHDC for change recently achieving the agreement for a free Christmas parking pilot scheme. "The demand to update the Mill Lane 'industrial estate' to a modern business park came from this forum and was taken up by AIM and EHDC to achieve this outstanding success. "This team now has to focus on achieving the improvement objectives and continue to maintain Alton's position as a town of choice for conducting modern and traditional business operations." Alton Town Council leader David Willoughby has congratulated the recently formed ATP on this early success, "particularly as this shows the benefit of all the councils and other agencies working together for the good of our town. "This demonstrates that the efforts of the 'steering group' in identifying appropriate projects have been recognised as being of real value and I look forward to further successes in the coming months," he said. "The willingness of the different bodies to work as a team cannot be over emphasised and I would call upon all clubs, societies and other organisations in the Alton area to join in, where appropriate, with the ATP in other projects to achieve more benefits for all." EHDC portfolio holder for innovation and technology, with oversight of economic development and tourism, Guy Stacpoole said: "It is part of this council's commitment to support local businesses and improve people's lives. The council recognises the need for Alton to become a sustainable, vibrant and successful community. The Town Partnership's 2020 initiative was an important step in building confidence in the local area as a place to do business. Therefore, the council has actively supported its bid for SEEDA funding through the Economic Development Office." HCC executive member for economic development Michael Woodhall said: "This is a great result for the town and it really has been an excellent team effort."
