THE project to redevelop New Cumnock’s town hall and outdoor swimming pool has been recognised with a national award.

They were each given a commendation at The Scottish Civic Trust’s My Place Awards 2018 which took place at a ceremony at The Lighthouse in Glasgow.

Both facilities, at the heart of the town, were renovated by The Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust.

Gordon Neil, who accepted the award on behalf of the trust, said: “Our programme of heritage-led regeneration has played its part in making positive a difference to the lives of many people in Cumnock and Doon Valley.

"We are delighted that this initiative, as well as the sterling work by Dovecot Architecture in designing New Cumnock’s town hall and oudtoor swimming pool, is recognised by The Scottish Civic Trust.”

The Tamar Manoukian New Cumnock Swimming Pool was threatened with closure in 2016 but was rescued by Dumfries House Trust, the charity founded by HRH Prince Charles, The Duke of Rothesay, and based at Dumfries House estate, near Cumnock.

The refurbished facility, part of a £4m refurbishment of New Cumnock undertaken by the Trust that includes the renovated adjacent town hall, offers employment to 14 local people on a full-time and part-time basis.

The pool reopened last month for the 2018 season. Last year, pool staff welcomed a record number of locals and tourists — 14,500 — between mid-June, when refurbishment was completed, and December.