Purvis calls on communities to enter Scottish Calor Village of the Year Competition

12.00.00am GMT Fri 22nd Feb 2008

Scotland's rural communities are to celebrate their successes and share their ideas in the 'Scottish Calor Village of the Year' competition, and local MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, Jeremy Purvis, is keen for all eligible rural communities within the area to enter.

The event, which was launched this week in the Scottish Parliament, is being supported by both the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC) and Rural Gateway.

Speaking today Mr Purvis stated:

"I am delighted that rural communities in the Borders will be given the chance to put themselves and their ideas on the map. Rural communities play a huge role within Scottish national identity and I am pleased that at last they will receive the credit they deserve.

"The Calor Village of the Year competition has been designed to encourage communities to work together to safeguard the long-term viability of local life. In recent years I have been pleased to have joined Walkerburn at the awards ceremony when they were a finalist. The battle against social exclusion, which is a real problem in today's bustling society, can be supported through the competition.

"I urge all eligible rural communities within Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale to enter into the competition."