MEMBERS of the steering group involved in the five-year New Cumnock Community Action Plan which will transform the area are keen to involve more people in the project.

Work is scheduled to start soon on a new town centre, which will make the gateway to Ayrshire a more attractive place for residents and visitors alike, with the Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust taking the lead in addressing many of the priorities that the community has raised.

Integral to the plans will be the creation of a community square which will include a heritage centre, cafe, toilets, an arts and crafts centre, refurbished open air swimming pool, play areas, community garden, and a refurbished town hall, while a sports hub will be established in conjunction with Glenafton Athletic FC.

The new Heritage Centre will focus on the rich heritage of New Cumnock, in particular its connections with Robert Burns, Robert the Bruce, William Wallace, The Covenanters and both deep and opencast mining.

A new community cafe is planned that will seat around 50 or 60 people and, weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to sit outside and enjoy New Cumnock sunshine.

Toilet facilities will be located in the building that houses the cafe and the heritage centre and will be accessed via the centre during opening hours.

There will also be amenities for arts and crafts with numerous people in the village able to use their talent to create a variety of such items, this will give them a chance to display their creations as well as attracting visitors.

As featured recently in the Chronicle, volunteers from Afton Water Leisure - who run the swimming pool - are keen for the work to commence at the pool and open their new venue to the public.

Two separate play areas will be constructed, one for toddlers and a more adventurous one for the older age group. Pupils from the local primary school and early education centre will be encouraged to become involved in their design.

Consideration will be given to the area to be used for a community garden, what could be planted, and how it will look.

At the Town Hall, a lot of background work has been going on to take this project forward and it is hoped that building work will commence before the end of this year, with a first class, state of the art facility the end result.

The town is also set for a brand new sports hub. Glenafton Athletic have had plans in mind for some time, and they are now progressing for a new development which will include changing rooms, shop, kitchen, community gym and hospitality suite.

Ian Harper of the steering group said: “There has been a lot of work going on and we hope that the developments will attract other investors, retailers, and projects to our village. The steering group would like to thank everyone who has been involved through the surveys and the further consultations at the various stages of development.

“However, work goes on and the new facilities and activities that will be on our doorstep will still need support and assistance from local people. There will be a need for volunteers to help in a variety of ways during the construction and on completion of the building work. This is a good thing as it will make our village more community minded.” Among the suggestions that Mr Harper has made are asking school children to decide on a popular name for the cafe, while volunteers will be needed to run the facility, particularly any with appropriate experience or expertise that could make it become a popular venue for all.

Those with an interest in the area’s history could also provide vital assistance in establishing the heritage centre, while anyone who would like to join the steering group would be welcome — e-mail jamesharper4@sky.com, or call 01290 333982 if you are keen to help the village.