Alness High Street bids to be the best

A BOLD bid to see an Easter Ross High Street named the best in Britain remains on track following a shortlisting which has seen the feelgood factor blossom, according to a local leader.

Impressive floral displays and a united message over the unique pulling power of the main thoroughfare in Alness has put the town in frame for a £15,000 prize.

A judging panel from the Great British High Street Awards, sponsored by Visa, visited the town last month as part of the process. The awards run across the UK with winners expected to be announced in November.

Carolyn Wilson, who runs a local business and is also a Cromarty Firth ward councillor, said the town was "buzzing" after the shortlisting, which pits the town against bids from Glasgow, Kirriemuir, Kirkwall, Newport-on-Tay and Turriff.

Mrs Wilson said: "There’s a real feelgood factor. Normally I’m sceptical about these sort of 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."

High Streets minister Jake Berry hailed Alness and said: "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.

Inspiration for other Ross-shire High Streets? Email newsdesk@spp-group.com