THE future of Cumnock is looking bright after the launch of the towns action plan.

The Cumnock Action Plan was launched before a packed Town Hall last Wednesday as the steering group presented the main priorities for the development of the area over the next five years with a helping hand from world renowned composer Sir James MacMillan.

The launch was the result of almost a year of hard work, including community engagement activities to measure the strength of feeling in the town.

Since August last year, the steering group have distributed more than 3,000 surveys to households in the town and held meeting with key businesses and community groups for feedback.

Of the 3,000 surveys distributed almost 2,000 were returned.

The results highlighted six key priorities to be tackled over the next five years.

The six priorities included outdoor activities and open spaces, the local economy, a better town appearance, community facilities, activities and events, tourism history and heritage and local services.

The group is now set to press the issue based on public feedback on each of the key priorities.

The Action Plan will set out to rejuvenate the Woodroad Park as well as improve Broomfield and create more welcoming outdoor spaces as well as the introduction of new and improved outdoor sports facilities for all ages.

With the imminent closure of the Glaisnock Shopping Centre, the Action Plan will also seek to develop a new shopping centre with a better range of high streets shops as well as a major supermarket. The theme of the local economy would also see an improvements to employment and training opportunities. The group would also seek to develop the Caponacre and Ayr Road Business Parks.

The Action Plan will also look to improve the town centre appearance by developing a 'Keep Cumnock Beautiful' campaign. It will also look to provide more bog waste and litter bins and provide improved bus shelters.

They will also look to develop better town information maps and signage to local attractions and points of interest .

Feedback from residents also highlighted a lack of community facilities as well as local activities and events. The Action Plan will now look to develop a sports hub and community centre as well as an arts and crafts centre.

Feedback found that the town does not promote itself enough and the steering group will now look to help push the promotion of the town.

The results from the community engagement process also highlighted a lack of local services, including public transport links. The group will look to improve on rail links for Cumnock and also explore re-opening the towns train station as well as improving upon the public walkways and roads.

Speaking at the launch event, Artistic Director of The Cumnock Tryst, Sir James MacMillan said: "I feel that there's a real sense of ownership in this process and that they have helped reignite that sense of community volunteering, pride and activism necessary for the town to rediscover what it means to thrive and to regenerate in the 21st century.

"The months of community consultations and open events have revealed and identified priorities of households, young people, businesses and voluntary organisations in Cumnock. It's also given people the opportunity to identify what are the most important priorities in the town and also to discover what others are saying about what needs to happen here."

Sir James added: "Having lived and grown up in Cumnock in the 60's and 70's and maintained close connections ever since through family and friends I hold affectionate memories and vibrant hopes for the town. Some things have changed and some things have stayed the same. There is now, not just much talk, but also apparent action relating to the regeneration of the area."

Following the event residents were asked to sign up and back the action plan with 67 people signing up.

To get involved in the email info@cumnockactionplan.org.