Attractiveness of rural areas: the Smart Village Scotland project

SUMMARY

Many villages and towns in rural or semi-urban areas are suffering from desertification. The lack of investment, economic activity, means of communication and access to road and rail infrastructures, has had a domino effect, with the exodus of working people to large towns or urban suburbs, the closure of public services and the proliferation of "abandoned" housing estates. This phenomenon is present in many parts of France and Europe. Scotland is a case in point. Although Scotland is a very attractive country for tourists, investment and economic spin-offs mainly benefit the big cities, to the detriment of rural villages, which are sometimes "left to their own devices". Aware of this problem, and of territorial inequalities in terms of resources, Kenny Higgins, consultant and entrepreneur, conducted a six-year study on the state of Scotland's rural economy. The project began with an analysis of his home region and, more specifically, his home village (Strathyre Borough Council). Strathyre) in order to identify the various issues, develop a strategy and action plan to "enhance rural community development, stimulate rural tourism and encourage digital connectivity through the creation of a digital portal to provide a wide range of information to the community it serves". The project carried out in Strathyre has produced very convincing results, giving the town a higher profile, a new boost in terms of residents, tourists and economic activity, and making it one of Scotland's must-see music festival venues. The result is the Smart Village Scotlandproject, which Kenny Higgins is developing with the expertise of consultants from Growbiz Scotlandwhich specializes in community and business development in Scotland.