180 delegates will attend the biggest market towns and rural event of the year - The Action for Market Towns Convention - which will be held in the Leicestershire market town of Melton Mowbray on 13 and 14 October.

The convention theme is 'Beyond the Recession' and it includes a lively programme of study tours and workshops covering the revitalisation of our market towns and rural areas. The convention is being held in association with the Rural Services Network and will include discussion of the draft of a Rural Services Manifesto, which will be launched in November in the run-up to the next general election.

On Tuesday, 13 October at 11.45 am, the Convention will be addressed by Philip Dunne MP, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rural Affairs.

A highlight of the convention will be the announcement of the winner of the National Market Town Awards. Eight regional winners have already been named and they will make presentations to the convention about the projects in their towns, conceived and brought to fruition by voluntary partnerships, which are making a difference to local people.

A local organising group will give delegates a flavour of regeneration work in Melton Mowbray and other Welland towns through a programme of study tours on topics such as Melton's position as a rural capital of food and drink, regeneration of key town sites, tackling financial exclusion in the credit crunch, affordable housing, providing learning support for vulnerable young people, managing a 'shop local' campaign, developing a strategic masterplan for the town and co-operation on projects between 14 Welland towns.

The convention has been made possible by hard work and financial support from local businesses and public sector organisations, including East Midlands Development Agency (emda), Leicestershire County Council, Melton Borough Council and the Melton Town Partnership. 

Cllr Geoff Stevens, Rural Board Member of emda, will speak at the convention. This week, he welcomed the Convention to the East Midlands, saying: "Melton Mowbray is one of our region's many classic market towns and it's a very fitting location for this conference.  Around 15% of the East Midlands population live in small towns such as this one - almost double the English average.  Market towns are clearly very important to this region, acting as key centres for rural tourism, a gateway to the surrounding countryside and an attraction in their own right through their historic heritage and fabric.  It is important we continue to respond to economic changes to help these rural communities through this period of uncertainty.  This conference will provide a great opportunity to explore what else can be done to ensure our market towns survive the recession and prepare to prosper when the upturn comes."

Leicestershire County Council's Better Places Team is assisting with the tours of Melton Mowbray at the Beyond the Recession conference. 

Ernie White, the County Council's lead member for Better Places, said: 

"I am pleased to welcome delegates to this conference in Melton. This is a great opportunity to visit one of Leicestershire's leading Market Towns and to see what is happening and what is being developed in line with the town's masterplan. The joined up work between partners has provided a strong basis for facing this period of economic difficulties." 

Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions, the organisation responsible for promoting Leicester and Leicestershire to visitors, added: "Melton is a particular success story in that the town's commitment to tourism has enabled the sector to become a key driver in the economic development of the area. As their local Destination Management Organisation, we have formed a close and effective partnership that has resulted in the adoption of a clear and focused brand - 'the UK's rural capital of food and drink' - and that has further raised the profile of the town from a national perspective."