'Hayling's BEST' receives Two Market Town Awards.

- Thu 14th Jun 2007

The Hayling's BEST Market Town Initiative Group has reached the South East Area Finals of this award scheme in two categories as the following message extract received from Robert Brady, the Regional Co-coordinator, shows.

'I am writing to let you know the results of the first stage of the assessment process for the South East Market Town Awards for 2007 into which you submitted two entries, the Hayling Island DVD Postcard and the Hayling Heritage & Tourism Residential. The assessment panel has now considered all the entries and accompanying material and has selected eight finalists (two in each category).

I am pleased to be able to tell you that the Hayling Island DVD Postcard entry has been chosen as a finalist in the Business & Economy Category and Hayling Heritage & Tourism Residential has been chosen as a finalist in the Partnership & Strategic Working Category. I would therefore like to invite you to attend in London on the 18th June to present both projects.'

The successful choice at the presentation will go to the National Final. There are financial benefits from this process.

I would like to congratulate Robin Walton who wrote, filmed and directed the DVD and Rosemary Satchwell who did so much to ensure we had sufficient finance to proceed with the project.

I would also like to thank Sarah Snowden for conceiving the 'Residential' and organizing students from Winchester University who carried out the study. Many Islanders provided the local input needed for the investigations and ably supported them. Finally I must thank Sinah Warren and the Bourne Group for providing the venue for the study on very favourable terms.

As people will know, Marie and Colin Telford are now pushing ahead with the Scarecrow Festival that will begin, in conjunction with the Carnival, at the end of this month. We hope there will be great support for this. Another group under Robin Walton is pressing ahead with the 'Discover Hayling's Heritage' and associated programmes to be launched in 2008.

The Hayling's BEST MTI Group will hold its AGM in October and, as people can see, it is starting to make an impact on Hayling life. We would be very pleased to have more people wishing to contribute to our programme (Business, Environment, Social issues and Transport) and anyone wishing to get involved is invited to contact me on 92464723.

Tony Higham.

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