Inverurie Named Scotland's Town of the Year at Scotland Loves Local Awards

That the Parliament congratulates Inverurie on being named Scotland’s Town of the Year at the Scotland Loves Local Awards; recognises the town’s strong sense of community, thriving local businesses and continued investment in its town centre; notes that Inverurie’s population grew by almost a fifth between 2011 and 2022, reaching more than 15,000 people; commends local initiatives, including the Garioch Pipe Band Championships at Kellands Park, which attracted an estimated 9,000 visitors, and the expanding monthly farmers’ market, which has doubled in size since 2024; welcomes the town’s reported retail vacancy rate of approximately 4% as evidence of its commercial strength; celebrates the contribution of generations of family-run businesses, including Wm Bruce Shoe Shop, which has traded for 103 years, and Strachan’s, which has served the community since 1938; acknowledges the dedication of residents, traders, community organisations and Aberdeenshire Council in preserving Inverurie’s distinctive character as a historic market town while supporting its modern growth; recognises the town’s longstanding friendship with Bagnères-de-Bigorre in France; commends everyone whose collective efforts have helped make Inverurie a vibrant, welcoming and successful place to live, work and visit, and wishes the town continued success as it proudly wears its crown as Scotland’s Town of the Year.