THE WEE COUNTY played host to a delegation of Norwegians who visited Clacks to see a state-of-the-art housing development.

The group arrived from the City of Stavanger in Norway on May 3 and visited Alloa to learn more about the Place Standard Tool in practice.

The Place Standard Tool features 14 questions designed to get communities thinking about the spaces they live in and interact with, and if there is any way that these could be designed better.

Partner organisations Clackmannanshire Council, Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) and Alloa First were on hand to share their thoughts on how the Place Standard Tool has benefitted the community.

Diane Brown, from Alloa First, said: "Alloa First, in partnership with Clacks Council and CTSI undertook a community survey four years ago using the Place Standard Tool.

"We were delighted to host Norwegian delegates from the city of Stavanger last week who were interested to see how using the Place Standard Tool helped us determine projects to improve the town centre both for the local and business community.

"We were able to demonstrate that by funding new CCTV, introducing planters and hanging baskets, the installation of the new mural and the revamping of the closed public toilets in to an active travel Hub all help make the town centre feel safer, friendlier and cared for."

Developers used the tool when creating the Primrose Place housing development, a facility with the highest level of dementia-friendly accreditation on offer.

DELEGATION: The group from Norway visited Alloa to learn more about the Place Standard Tool in practice. Pictures provided by Public Health Scotland.

DELEGATION: The group from Norway visited Alloa to learn more about the Place Standard Tool in practice. Pictures provided by Public Health Scotland.

The delegation visited Primrose Place and took seminars to understand how Place Standard Tool was implemented in Alloa to consider community consultation and local planning and design.

Public Health Scotland welcomed the delegation in Alloa and led them around the development.

John Howie, interim public health principal at Public Health Scotland, said: “This visit provided an excellent opportunity for Scotland and Norway to exchange knowledge and ideas on approaches to place-based working, and discuss the positive impacts of the Place Standard Tool on local places and the well-being of local communities.”

A spokesperson for Clackmannanshire Council said: “The council is delighted that Public Health Scotland, the Scottish Government and Architecture & Design Scotland chose to bring the Norwegian delegation to Alloa to see how we have successfully used the Place Standard Tool to facilitate consultation on projects in the town centre, including the Primrose Street housing.

“The feedback from the delegation was that their welcome to Alloa, and the whole experience, were outstanding and they were inspired and refreshed after hearing about the approach taken by the council and the achievements that have been realised.

“The delegation were thankful for all the support that has been provided and will follow up with sharing their own project experiences in the future.”