RESIDENTS in Ochiltree have banded together in the face of threatened closures in the village.

The community centre and library in Ochiltree have been earmarked for closure and demolition in April next year and designs and funding for any replacements have to be confirmed by December 2017 - with a £29,000 price tag being slapped on the land where the centre and library currently sit.

Now, the villagers are fighting back. They have formed a charity to fight for a new multi-purpose community facility.

The Ochiltree Community Hub (OCH) are now mounting a rescue mission to keep the heart of the village alive.

Speaking to the Chronicle this week, chairman of OCH, Alex Baird, said: “We are looking to the future: Ochiltree without a community centre would be a bleak prospect.

“Surveys amongst villagers show evidence of an overwhelming desire to provide a flexible and sustainable community facility in the village for old and young to come together. It would be a vital linchpin to help keep the village’s social and environmental integrity. We are lucky to have 14 enthusiastic and capable trustees as well as a growing membership all of whom are working hard towards keeping their village intact.” The Hub has turned to the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community for help. The Foundation has provided advice and support as well as facilitating a community workshop in the village which encouraged locals to identify their vision for the community space.

Envisioned as ‘for the community, with the community and by the community’, the hub will be an open, flexible space, welcoming for all ages and accommodating a range of community activities and services.

The OCH trustees are also currently working on plan to allow everyone in the village to play a part in the funds needed.

Mr Baird added: “Without this money we won’t be able to do anything. The purchase of the land really is the absolute basis for our plans. If we are able to show funders that the village had contributed towards part of the land out of their own pocket it would be so positive. This will help us to attract much larger sums.” Their vision is to engage every household in the village in developing what the centre will look like and do. One way of striking up this dialogue is the new Community Café in the Community Centre, launching on Saturday October 3.

Run by volunteers the café will be open between 10am and 12pm every Saturday until Christmas.

Mr Baird added: “If you love Ochiltree and would like to keep its heart beating then drop into the Community Café on Saturdays. We need everyone to add their voice to our campaign. We are one village and we will fight to keep its heart beating. The village really needs you now.”