ROAD safety, tranquility, dog fouling and general improvements form the centre of a new plan for Sorn.

The village, along with Auchencloigh, launched a five year action plan last week in the sumptuous surroundings of Sorn Castle’s grounds.

The plan follows similar moves by New Cumnock, Mauchline, Logan, Lugar and Cronberry.

The action plan is based on feedback from extensive community engagement. The community engagement process began in December 2013 until April 2014 and over the four month consultation period local households, community groups, young people and businesses were asked for their views, and a series of meetings, focus groups and events took place. The responses received helped to shape the community’s shared vision for the next five years.

A number of local priorities were identified, and like many other communities, roads and transportation issues are high on the agenda and specifically for Sorn, infrastructure with access to internet and broadband connections features strongly.

Sorn in particular suffers from a high volume of heavy load-bearing traffic passing through the village and there is a keen desire to address this in the interests of road safety and also to preserve the tranquillity of the community.

The plan also outlines proposals to improve the appearance of both communities, by cleaning up the villages generally, tackling dog fouling in the area and maintaining public spaces and flowerbeds. Community representatives want to explore ways of improving local sporting facilities and activities and hope to encourage local volunteers to get involved in delivering these.

This is a very picturesque pocket of East Ayrshire and the local action plan outlines a number of actions designed to help boost local tourism trade and the local economy.

It contains proposals to develop walking and cycling paths in the area, with improved signage and better promotion; to increase the facilities available for tourists to the area in terms of retail, hospitality and public amenities.

Local resident, Bill Morton chaired the local steering group established to lead the community through the planning process.

The event at Sorn Castle was attended by over 50 people from the local communities. Fiona Lees, Chief Executive, East Ayrshire Council, was among the invited guests, and pupils from Sorn Primary School delighted the audience with a display of Scottish song and dance, pictured above. Hospitality was kindly proved by the family of Sorn Castle.