OCHILTREE Community Hub’s office premises have been officially opened in a ceremony conducted by East Ayrshire Provost Jim Todd.

The culmination of months of hard work by the trustees heading a community-led action plan, it is the latest stage of the five-year vision of a thriving facility for the village.

They have come a long way since being set up as a charity, with initial help from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s Community Investment programme, which donated £5,000.

Opening the office and coffee shop represents another significant landmark in the quest to transform the former post office, which closed in March.

Provost Todd spoke of the opening event when he gave his customary update at the start of a meeting of the full East Ayrshire Council last week.

Showing slides of the opening event on the giant screens in the council chamber he said: “It was a pleasure to officially open Ochiltree Community Hub (OCH) office and coffee shop.

“The facility, at 108 Main Street, is a very welcome addition for the whole community. OCH will support Active Healthy Lifestyles in the community.

“This support will create opportunities in play, recreation and sport and is an excellent example of community partnership working.”

He is pictured after declaring the office and coffee shop open, with some of the OCH trustees and their little mascot, called Eve.

Following the official business part of the day, he enjoyed some tea and cake and the Chronicle can reveal that he helped do the dishes afterwards.

Eve is the 16-month-old granddaughter of Alex Baird, chairman of OCH, and has been going along to the group’s event almost since she was born.

Mr Baird said: “She used to go along in her carry-cot, is now part of everything that we do, and popular with everyone, in particular the children.

“Opening the office is the result of a decision taken by OCH in November/December last year as we had nowhere to meet other than in people’s houses, while the post office lay vacant.

“We successfully applied for funding from Comic Relief which has enabled us to rent the premises, refurbish them and pay for the utilities.

“It is now our office as well as a meeting place which is open to voluntary groups for a nominal fee.

“There is an old folks group using it, while East Ayrshire Council are hosting an event in relation to opencast sites at Skares and Netherton.

“Meanwhile the coffee shop will be open to enable us to keep the community informed in what we are doing.”

East Ayrshire Council chief executive, Fiona Lees had suggested getting the provost to perform the opening ceremony, which he was delighted to do.

While he was in Ochiltree, he took the time to chat to locals about mutual acquaintances as well as reminiscing about some former haunts in the area.

OCH exists to fundraise and pay for a new community-owned building in the heart of the village and now have £160,000 towards their target of £1.1m.