ALTON Initiatives Management (AIM Ltd) is to receive a regional award for its work in enhancing the town centre. And subject to a presentation at the award ceremony in Guildford this week, it could be in line for national recognition. AIM's strategic project to enhance the town centre experience in Alton has attracted the eye of the Association of Town Centre Management whose judges have awarded it first prize in the "enhancing the retail offer" category of the ATCM south east regional competition. Alton's success is rated alongside Hastings, which won the award for "managing the evening economy" and Crawley, for "creating quality environments". The award is a major coup for AIM as it recognises its success in taking over the licence to provide and manage Alton's Tuesday market and in implementing a hugely successful regional-standard events programme in the town centre. AIM Ltd chairman, Mike Baker, believes that achieving regional award status against tough competition reflects the commitment and success of the AIM team in achieving its key objective. He told The Herald: "A lot of hard work by a lot of people has achieved the vision that AIM set out for the town centre." Launched in March 2002 with the support of East Hampshire District Council and Alton Town Council, the first challenge for AIM Ltd was to engineer the move of Alton's failing Tuesday market from its traditional location in the Market Square. This involved complicated and tricky negotiations and arrangements to establish the market in the High Street, which had become the modern day centre of retail activity. It is a key achievement recognised by the ATCM in the awarding of its regional accolade, which also endorses the successful implementation of an integrated programme of town centre events, which has attracted exhibitors and visitors from across the region. Town initiatives manager Vernon Pearce is delighted AIM's efforts have been recognised, "especially against the projects of much bigger towns". He told The Herald: "The decision to relocate the Tuesday market in the High Street in 2002 was a bold one, given the tradition dating back to before the Norman Conquest. While the original market was dying in its Market Square position, the new Tuesday market has steadily grown in size and recognition. It now regularly attracts more than 25 stalls and has gained the reputation of being one of the best in the region." He added: "Our latest footfall survey revealed that there were 40 per cent more people in the town centre on Tuesdays than on any other day and that footfall in the High Street has increased two and a half times in three years. "In addition, the regular programme of regional-standard events in the town centre at the weekends has made Alton more attractive as a place to visit." Mr Pearce was upbeat about the impact of AIM's success. "I believe that this increase in footfall has helped the growth of independent specialised shops in the town centre and, in the last 12 months has encouraged the arrival of national retailers such as Costa Coffee and Marks & Spencer Simply Foods." Vernon Pearce and Mike Baker were due to attend the ATCM awards ceremony at The County Club in Guildford yesterday (Thursday). Along with the other regional prize winners, they were expected to make a presentation to the judges which, if successful, could earn AIM a place in the final for the national Town Centre Management Project of the Year award.
