Community Asset Transfer update
The Council’s Cabinet agreed this week to approve the lease of two areas of land and the sale of two properties in East Ayrshire under the Community Asset Transfer framework.
Land at Green Park, Newmilns will be handed over under a 10-year lease to Campbell Area Tenants’ and Residents’ Association. The Association wants to expand the play equipment in the local park to increase opportunities for young people within the area and to contribute to upgrading the park as a whole.
The transfer will be subject to approval from the Sheriff Court given that the park sits on the Common Good register.
A 25-year lease of land that lies to the south of McAdam Way in Dalmellington has been approved for transfer to Dalmellington Parish Development Trust (DPDT) once all funds for the proposed development of the site have been confirmed as being acquired.
The DPDT has ambitions to create an inclusive cycle track within the area and is working closely with Ayrshire Roads Alliance in relation to parking, roads and connectivity to the Dalmellington Active Travel Network. Once completed, the project will provide further inclusive amenities within the area, increased active travel options and employment opportunities, and hopefully increased footfall within the community.
Galston Library has been agreed for transfer to Galston Community Development Trust which wants to increase the floor space of its current charity shop within the site and to include the food larder within the building.
Further south, Lugar Boswell Thistle Football Club will take on responsibility for Rosebank Park in Lugar, one of the oldest continuously used football grounds in Scotland which the club has been based in for 142 years. During discussions to increase the length of its current lease with East Ayrshire Council, the club requested to buy the site itself including the car park to the west of the site.
Councillor Drew Filson, Cabinet Member for Localities and Community Wealth Building, said: “Since the Council’s Community Asset Transfer framework began, we have agreed 66 asset transfers for community ownership or operation throughout East Ayrshire. This has helped to build community wealth and allowed resources to be invested locally.
“Our communities have great vision and ambition and the plans for each of the recently agreed transfers have been well planned and thought out. I look forward to seeing the many benefits that our communities will experience as the projects move forward.”
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