The final Sustaining Small Expanding Towns (SusSET) conference will be hosted by Aberdeenshire Council in the Garioch town from Sunday, September 23 until Wednesday, September 26.

The event will be the climax of a 30 month initiative that was designed to develop a strategy for small towns in Europe.

Throughout the project, representatives of 12 towns within Aberdeenshire, Sweden, Greece and Poland have worked together to establish and share best practice, and develop a toolkit that will ensure the sustainability of small towns across Europe.

Former Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership Co-ordinator Dr Nick Brown created the project, which is part of the European INTERREG IIIc programme.

Garioch Area Manager Ian Fowell, who is leading the project for Aberdeenshire, explained: "There has been very little work in Europe so far about the importance in the economy of small, successful expanding towns.

"There is currently an emphasis on regeneration, meaning you effectively have to 'fail' first before being able to access support.

"This project is about making sure towns that are already achieving are able to continue developing successfully.

"The project has been a great example of partnership working, and long-lasting links have been developed between the participating towns.

"Each community will now be able to use the Whole Town Strategy and toolkit as (a] way of ensuring their continuing sustainability."

At this month's conference, Aberdeenshire Council will, as lead partner for SusSET, welcome national politicians and officials from each of the participating countries, and promote examples of local initiatives that have derived from the project.

The event will also feature a formal presentation of the toolkit that has been established over the preceding 30 months.

The toolkit comprises a number of different themes to be incorporated within a Whole Town Strategy.

The themes include Tourism and Town Identity, Marketing and Promotion, Town Management, and Partnership, in addition to Planning, Conservation and Heritage, and Youth and Community Dialogue.

As a result of SusSET, various activities have already been held locally in Inverurie, such as the development of a tourism strategy and voluntary sector forums, and the creation of resources that promote tourism and local walks.

The Inverurie Strategy is now to be refreshed, with plans to be developed through discussions between Aberdeenshire Council, Inverurie Business Association, Inverurie Community Council and the voluntary sector.

Via the 30 month project, strong links were built between Inverurie and the Swedish town of Amal.

Due to the close working relationship between the two communities, a group of Inverurie youngsters went to the Santa Lucia Festival in Amal, and their visit will be returned this month when a band from Sweden journeys to the North east town.

Residents of Amal were treated to a blend of Scottish music courtesy of the Garioch's Red Hot Ceilidh Peppers, and a Scottish youth group visited the Swedish town to develop relations with young people from all of the participating countries.

In 2006, approximately 60 international delegates were welcomed by Aberdeenshire Council when they joined counterparts in Inverurie, Ellon and Stonehaven for a three day conference.
Alison Cumming, Scottish Regional Co-ordinator, is looking forward to welcoming representatives once again to the North east of Scotland.

She said: "Not only has the project developed a Whole Town Strategy and toolkit that can be used by communities across Europe, it has also led to friendships which I am sure will lead to long-lasting links between the participating countries.

"We are delighted to bring the final conference not only to Scotland, but to Aberdeenshire for what will be a celebration of the achievements of the past 30 months."

During the conference, on Monday, September 24, the international visitors will take part in group sessions to discuss how each theme within the strategy could progress on completion of the SusSET project.

Delegates will also travel to Stonehaven, Inverurie and Ellon to see examples of initiatives that have developed in the towns.

Project manager Ian Fowell will open the formal conference on Tuesday, September 25, and Aberdeenshire Provost Bill Howatson will then extend a warm welcome to all the guests.
Before a presentation on the Whole Town Strategy is delivered, Dr Nick Brown will discuss the SusSET project as a whole.

Sessions relating to each of the themes listed within the strategy are to follow.

Infrastructure Services Committee Chairman Councillor Martin Ford will give a presentation on the project's key findings and the formal conference will end in the evening, after which delegates will be invited to attend a ceilidh to enjoy the traditional hospitality of Aberdeenshire.