Dunlop Early Childhood Centre officially opens at special ceremony
Dunlop Early Childhood Centre has been officially opened by Past Provost Jim Todd at a special ceremony where he unveiled a plaque.
Past Provost Todd was joined by Leader of the Council, Councillor Douglas Reid, Depute Provost John McGhee and Councillor Ellen Freel; Janie Allen, Strategic Manager Early Years, Kirsty Mitchell, Depute Head of Centre, representatives from Facilities and Property Management and the main contractor, Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd.
The ceremony was a joyous occasion with the children from the ECC entertaining the invited guests with a rendition of Jingle Bells. They also signed a version of the song, which was very impressive, before helping Past Provost Todd to unveil the plaque.
Past Provost Todd said: “I was absolutely delighted to officially open Dunlop Early Childhood Centre, it was a real honour. The ECC is such a beautiful space that fits so well on the site, the views alone over to the countryside and Arran, are literally second to none.
“The project is also leading the way in Scotland with the use of Passivhaus technology, ensuring that we are building on our commitment to both tackling the climate emergency and ensuring that every young person in East Ayrshire benefits from the very best start in life.
“For me, meeting the children was the absolute best bit of the day. They were so bright and cheery, we spent ages chatting away about Christmas and their likes and dislikes. The best feeling as a parent, grandparent or a carer of a child, is knowing that your child is safe and well looked after. The Council has created a beautiful space and the wonderful staff from The Bridge have ensured that the children enjoy a warm and nurturing environment.”
The ECC, which is known as The Bridge, can accommodate 72 places and has been built on a site overlooking fields just off Lugton Road. The design ensures that children have access to quality learning opportunities and experiences both indoors and outdoors.
The Bridge is also the Council’s first Passivhaus building. This means that the ECC has been built to a world-leading energy efficiency and thermal performance standard. Heat loss from the building is minimised, reducing energy usage and helping the Council move towards achieving sustainability targets while providing an environment with a high standard of internal comfort.