Hastings old town is one of ten locations nominated by the Ramblers Association for its Best Walking Neighbourhood Award.

People have just 14 days (until March 14) to submit their votes and secure the win for Hastings.

The Ramblers say the award is in recognition of the many neighbourhoods around the UK that are already great for walking and this first ever Best Walking Neighbourhood Award is intended to celebrate those neighbourhoods.

A Ramblers spokesman said: “We asked people to nominate their favourites and we’ve put together a shortlist of ten of the best.

“The streets of Hastings Old Town really were made for walking and several factors contribute to its place in the final award shortlist. Developed before the advent of the car, many facilities don’t have parking spaces, meaning people are more likely to choose walking as the quickest and easiest way of making their journey. The quaint streets are crisscrossed by narrow “twittens”, passages developed in Victorian times that today form charming pedestrian routes between the main streets. In addition the old town’s historic streets have light traffic flow and priority is given to pedestrians in some areas.”

People can vote for their favourite by going to the Ramblers website http://www.ramblers.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/britains-best-walking-neighbourhood-award.aspx

According to Ann Scott, chair of Old Hastings Preservation Society Hastings old town is: “…just a beautiful place to walk…’ She goes on to point out that there is just so much to see and so much of interest in the old town, not just the buildings themselves but the stories behind the buildings and the blue plaques which provide lots of information about who has lived there in the past.

“You’ve got the sea, you’ve got the architecture, you’ve got the hills and the countryside,” she says.

For local resident Marianne Smith it’s all about the fact that the old town is a very sociable neighbourhood and she puts that down to the fact that people walk everywhere, “You get to know people, you make friends, walking is part of my life,” she says.

For Anthony Slack the old town is what he describes as a close-knit community within an urban area that combines as many different types of walking opportunity as is possible.

“What’s great about walking in the old town is that it’s the very best way to get about. With the old town being as compact as it is it means it’s much easier to walk to places instead of going by car,” says Mr Slack.

Nine other areas are in the running for the award, including Walthamstow, Town Moor, Stocksbridge, Salford, Newtown, Kirby Steven, Hackney, Diglis and Dumfries.

Vote here now http://www.ramblers.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/britains-best-walking-neighbourhood-award.aspx