Alness on a high as it makes awards shortlist

AN Easter Ross High Street is in the running to be named best in Britain – and locals can now help push it over the line.

Alness has been shortlisted for the champions accolade following a visit by a Great British High Street Awards judging panel.

The local business community has banded together in a bid to snatch the £15,000 up for grabs and send out a positive message about what it can offer locals and visitors alike.

Local businesswoman Carolyn Wilson, who is also a ward councillor, said the town was "buzzing" after the shortlisting and that feedback from a judging panel from sponsor Visa had proved invaluable.

She said: "There’s a real feelgood factor. Normally I’m sceptical about competitions but this has been great. It’s an opportunity for everyone to take a look at what they’re doing. There have been lots of local winners through a competition run by Visa and we’ll have a pop-up workshop on social media. These competitions can sometimes give a helpful kick to improve things."

She puts Alness’s success down to a wide variety of goods and services from independent outlets.

Nationwide awards will be announced next month. Alness is up against competition from Glasgow, Kirriemuir, Kirkwall, Newport-on-Tay and Turriff. Ultimately, it hopes to be named best in Britain.

High Streets minister Jake Berry said: "Congratulations to Alness High Street on being shortlisted in this year’s Great British High Street Awards. The awards celebrate the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets and the quality of entries this year has been outstanding. This is a great opportunity to show your support for the hard work going on in Alness High Street so get voting!"

Sundeep Kaur, head of UK and Ireland Merchant Services at Visa, added: "Alness High Street is a fantastic example of a high street that has made huge strides in transforming itself to offer a range of different experiences for locals and visitors alike. In particular, its entry highlighted the shopkeepers in Alness who have worked hard to provide an exciting shopping experience, with each committing to offering something unique and which offers choice for consumers."

The shortlisted high streets will now battle it out in a public vote, which accounts for 30 per cent of the final scoring, and will then have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they seek to be crowned Britain’s best.

Those interested in participating in the public vote can visit www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk for more information.