Who are WoTTA?
The Walton-on-Thames Trading Alliance (WoTTA) was established in 2016 as a Community Interest Company and new business group for the town. Their aim was to bring the focus back on Walton and make it a better place to live and work. Everyone working at WoTTA is a volunteer.
In the beginning they connected with local businesses, gathering members, and meeting at our Big Breakfasts events. They established a very active social media presence with Facebook and Twitter accounts and a comprehensive website (the website has now been retired and the relevant contents can be found here on Love Walton).
WoTTA took over running the long-established Festival of Light which the town had missed the previous year. They then got involved with Heritage Day – historically run by the Walton Society – and went on to take over the organisation of that event. The British Legion got in touch as they were running short of members, so they took over organisation of Remembrance Sunday.
One of WoTTA’s first decisions as a volunteer-run business group was to try and implement a Business Improvement District. This was a long-term aim – they had to establish credibility as a new organisation first – but they believed it essential to ensure events would be sustainable in terms of funding, and to also have the scope to grow those events as well as improve many other aspects of the town. In 2020 WoTTA were delighted when the town businesses voted positively for a Business Improvement District.
WoTTA’s focus was on business, but also on community, forging very strong links with all local churches, schools and community groups. These links continue to flourish. For example, in late 2020 they saw the completion of the Ashley Play Park, a new play area for the town centre, which WoTTA had instigated in a coalition with Elmbridge Borough Council, Walton Charity and the BID. They were instrumental in setting up Meet Up Mondays, held at the Riverhouse Barn and hosted by ten different local charities. They also run Walton-in-Flower, working with volunteers to enhance the green vision of the town. They created the Walton History Trail and the Post Box Trail, both favourites with locals and visitors alike.
After the BID was established in 2020 WoTTA also passed over Festival of Light and Heritage Day to the Town Centre Manager, who enhanced those events and continues to run them. WoTTA did, however, retain the running of Remembrance Day and also works on special projects – such as the pathway through Ashley Park. They are still hopeful one day to help get a skate park into the area.
WoTTA can be contacted at: contact.wotta@gmail.com