Auchinleck could have new community space with £115k funding

As part of Auchinleck Community Development Initiative's (ACD) plans to provide more opportunities in the village, the group wants to transform part of the green space adjacent to the Boswell Centre.

The group want to make sure it becomes a space that can benefit as many people in Auchinleck as possible.

There are big plans from ACDI. (Image: Auchinleck Community Development Initiative)

ACDI recently received the good news that £115,000 worth of funding would be coming the group's way, thanks to the East Ayrshire Council Renewable Energy Fund.

As part of this, £30,000 will be spent on a feasibility study looking at the possibilities to transform the space.

Delighted at how this could enhance the area, Robert Madden, development manager at ACDI, said: “There’s an area that we want to turn into a biodiversity area which we can let grow.

“We want to have somewhere that we can maybe host events and have a proper community space, perhaps with a new play area or something along those lines.

“The feasibility study will look at what’s possible for the area and what we can actually put in there."

Although ACDI will be taking the project forward, they are keen to ensure whatever plan progresses is something that community wants to see.

Robert added: “But what’s important is that the people in the community to have their say.

“There will be a real drive for community participation to be a huge part of what gets taken forward.

“We’re really excited as a team about what we’re wanting to do here and what we think we can achieve.

“It feels like Auchinleck is maybe right on the brink of a lot of opportunities coming through, and we want to make sure what we’re trying to do is a big part of that.

“This area and the Boswell Centre is somewhere we want people to see as the hub of the village, and they can come here and find out just about anything they need to know, or find just about anything they’d want to be involved in."

It's hoped that the feasibility study can be launched some time in September.

A new gardening maintenance team has also recently been set up which will take care of the remainder of the Knowe Garden area.

Auchinleck Men's Shed is up and running. (Image: Auchinleck Community Development Initiative)

The ACDI team are also keen to stress that the new men's shed, located at the end of Quarry Knowe, is available for a variety of projects, such as bike upcycling, darts and tabletop games.

It's currently open Monday mornings from 10am-12pm and Fridays from 1-3pm.

The group is also hoping to add another day to its Thursday lunch club, which currently takes place weekly rom 11.30am-1pm.