Ayrshire town in running to be crowned Scotland's town of the year

Stephen Bark

24 September 2024 at 10:33 am·2-min read

An Ayrshire town is in the running to be named Scotland’s town of the year for 2024.

Darvel is one of five towns shortlisted for the award with the winner unveiled next month at the Scotland Loves Local Awards.

Communities from across the country were put forward for the honour before entries were whittled down to a final five which are now being considered by a panel of judges.

Broughty Ferry, East Kilbride, Inverurie and Oban are the other towns in the running.

Ayrshire community organisations were also shortlisted in the Most Enterprising Community category.

Both Dalry Community Hub and Narture CIC in Ayr are in contention for the award alongside Letham Climate Challenge in Perth, Tree in the Park from Dunfermline and Linlith-go-solar from Linlithgow.

Winners of these awards - alongside those for Place Leader of the Year and regional High Street Hero awards - will be announced in October.

Organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the Scotland Loves Local Awards recognise and reward all that’s great about the nation’s towns and neighbourhoods and the work to ensure they become stronger and more sustainable.

STP chief officer, Kimberley Guthrie, said: “The high standard of nominations received have been a powerful reminder of the amazing work going on to make communities across Scotland fit for the future, attracting investment and driving real economic change.

“Thanks to everyone who entered and congratulations to all of those shortlisted. Our judges face some difficult decisions in selecting their winners.”

Spearheaded by STP and supported by the Scottish Government, Scotland Loves Local is the movement encouraging people to create a better future for their community by choosing local. This is the fourth year in which the awards have been held.

Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter

HowStuffWorks
The Most Venomous Snake in the World and 19 Deadly Others
Just one bite from any of these venomous snakes could cost you your life. They're some of the deadliest snakes in the world and you don't want to mess with them.
AFP
As Great Salt Lake dries, Utah Republicans pardon Trump climate skepticism
From his ranch on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, Joel Ferry has a front row view of climate change: a native of Utah, the Republican farmer has seen the water's surface area shrink by two-thirds in the past 40 years.Financial incentives for farmers to reduce water consumption; exploring technology that optimizes irrigation, and seeds clouds to increase rainfall; splitting the lake into two to limit its salinity: "over a billion dollars" has been invested in the past three years, he said.
SWNS
Five wild boars spotted outside local pub
Five wild boars were spotted "on a night out" near The Golden Lion pub in Cinderford, Gloucestershire. The feral pigs have become increasingly common in the area, particularly around the Forest of Dean, where they have been known to attack pets and learn bin collection days to scavenge for food. Landlady Nikki Norman noted that it's "quite normal" for the animals to roam town, adding that customers find it "really great." Wild boars were hunted to extinction in Britain 700 years ago but re-established in the Forest in the 1990s.
The Telegraph
Last member of child-eating wolf pack beaten to death in India
Villagers in India have beaten to death a wolf believed to be the last of a six-member pack that killed nine people, eight of them children, wildlife officials said on Sunday.
The Independent
Scientists invent artificial plant that cleans indoor air and generates electricity
Artificial plant is nine-times more effective at removing CO2 than natural plants
The Telegraph
I’d be happy to live next to a wind turbine or electricity pylon, says Miliband
Ed Miliband has said he would be happy living next to a pylon or a wind turbine, according to reports.
Reuters
Exclusive-BP drops oil output reduction target in strategy reset, sources say
LONDON (Reuters) -BP has abandoned a target to cut oil and gas output by 2030 as CEO Murray Auchincloss scales back the firm's energy transition strategy to regain investor confidence, three sources with knowledge of the matter said. BP scaled back the target in February last year to a 25% reduction, which would leave it producing 2 million barrels per day at the end of the decade, as investors focused on near-term returns rather than the energy transition. The London-listed company is now targeting several new investments in the Middle East and the Gulf of Mexico to boost its oil and gas output, the sources said.
Wiltshire Times
Caravan site for 12 Gypsy families refused among latest applications
A caravan site in a small village just outside Swindon has been refused by Wiltshire Council after it was deemed an unsuitable location for 12 Gypsy families.
Euronews
World’s rivers drying up: World Meteorological Organization issues stark climate warning
Last year was the driest for global rivers in 30 years, while glaciers suffered the largest mass loss in 50 years.
The Telegraph
BP abandons oil and gas pledge as it prepares to target Middle East
BP has reportedly abandoned its target to cut oil and gas production by 2030 as its new chief executive scales back a switch to green energy to boost its share price.
The National
Scottish trust welcomes government grant to restore town's historic pier
A SCOTTISH-BASED company has welcomed hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding from the Scottish Government to assist in the restoration of a town’s historic pier ...
Reuters
Norway plans $3.3 billion floating wind subsidy cap
The Norwegian government proposed on Monday to offer up to 35 billion Norwegian crowns ($3.29 billion) in subsidies in the country's first commercial floating wind power tender, in line with a preliminary plan outlined in June. "Norway has enormous potential for floating offshore wind on its continental shelf, but because the technology is still immature and expensive, government support is needed to speed up development", Energy Minister Terje Aasland said. The expected cost of building floating wind farms has soared as inflation hit turbine makers and other suppliers, leading developers to seek significant government support.
Evening Standard
Man, 55, mauled to death by bear while picking mushrooms in Slovakia
The bear reportedly severed one of the victim's main arteries with a single swipe of its paw
Evening Standard
Kevin McCloud: 'The whole house-building market, and model, is broken.'
The living legend takes on the housing system as Grand Designs Live celebrates 25 years...
POWER Magazine
Kazakhstan Voters Show Support for Country's First Nuclear Power Plant
Voters in Kazakhstan reportedly have approved a plan that would bring the country its first nuclear power plant. Election officials said 70% of voters in a referendum held October 6 […]
The Telegraph
Farmer and author James Rebanks: ‘I hate the word rewilding – it’s been weaponised’
It has been a hectic few months for farmer and author James Rebanks, what with his family’s farm in the Lake District to tend, as well as a much-anticipated new book, the follow up to his prize-winning best-sellers The Shepherd’s Life and English Pastoral. To add to the pressure, over the summer he received an invitation from the new government asking him to sit on the board of directors of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the ministry responsible for the nation’s a
The Argus
Birds of all feathers flock together at Sussex pond
A wide variety of birds make this Sussex pond their home.
Bradford Telegraph and Argus
Work to re-open town centre public toilets finally begins
ALMOST a decade after they were closed, work to re-open public toilets in a town centre market square has finally begun.
The Telegraph
Council refuses to collect rubbish in ‘the King’s ideal town’
A bin row has erupted in the picturesque Dorset town of Poundbury after the council refused to collect locals’ mixed-up recycling.
The Guardian
Black bear with three cubs attacks man after breaking into Colorado home
Mother of pack crashes through glass door of 74-year-old man’s home, claws and injures him

Latest stories