GALLERY NEWS
News Article
Fri 13th November 2009
Lucky Friday 13th for Community Craft Initiative
West Kilbride Community Initiative has secured a significant investment of £431,729 from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund (TCRF), a Scottish Executive scheme to revitalise town centres.
The bid, submitted by Maggie Broadley Craft Development Manager at the end of August, was made up of three separate elements; the development of The Barony Centre; the replacement of the WK Village Hall heating system; and the purchase and upgrade the WK Initiative Centre. The Barony Centre, once operational, will attract over 20,000 visitors a year, with the increase in footfall and visitor spend having a beneficial effect throughout the town’s retail and service businesses.
Eddie Wood, Chairperson of WKCIL, was delighted to welcome Alex Neil, Scottish Minister for Housing and Communities, who came to West Kilbride on Friday morning to make the announcement.
“I’d like to thank the Minister for coming to Ayrshire, we were all delighted that he took time from what is a very busy schedule to meet with us. Alex Neil was really interested in what the community has planned for the future and congratulated us on our success, saying ours was an extremely good project”
Accompanied by Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, the Minister met with Eddie Wood, Maggie Broadley, and Angus Kerr, member of the Barony Project Team, at The Gallery for a brief introduction to the background of the Initiative and the development of the Craft Town.
Joined by Councillor David O’Neill, Leader of North Ayrshire Council and Justina Murray, who endorsed the WKCIL bid on behalf of North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership, everyone then visited the old Barony Church to see the redevelopment plans ‘on site’.
Maggie Broadley called Margaret Park, Chairperson of the WK Village Hall Users Group to deliver the good news. Well known for her dedication to improving the hall, Margaret took a little convincing that the call was not a dream! “This is a tremendous boost, Village Halls are difficult to find funding for and the committee have been looking to replace the original heating system, which is inefficient and expensive to run. The new heating system will significantly reduce our carbon footprint and the running costs of the building”
Eddie Wood would like to take the opportunity to thank Kenneth Gibson MSP for his ongoing support for the Initiative, his enthusiasm has been very much appreciated.
Hot on the heels of the announcement of the Big Lottery Fund award, this takes financial investment secured for the village in the last month alone to £1,337,883.
Maggie Broadley said “To have the endorsement of both the Big Lottery Fund and the Town Centre Regeneration Fund award is a real testament to the dedication and innovation displayed by local people over the years. The TCRF bids were assessed by an Independent Advisory Panel - Mr Alan Wilson, for many years the Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, Ms Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, and Mr Rory Mair, Chief Executive of COSLA. We are extremely proud of the fact that ours was selected in the face of what has been described as “ferocious competition” from across Scotland”.
(Kenenth GIbson MSP, Maggie Broadley and Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil, who announced WKCIL's success earlier today)
Website Link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/11/13101035