Plans to invest £40,000 to carry out a series of much-needed improvement works at Ardrossan Memorial Garden were unveiled last week.

The project has come about as a result of collaboration between local councillors, church groups and North Ayrshire Council who will provide the £40,000 funding.

Under the plans, the north wall on the Civic Centre side of the Garden will be repaired and lowered to allow Remembrance parades to assemble in the centre’s car park.

In previous years, Remembrance Sunday parades had to gather along the pavement if Glasgow Street had not been closed to traffic, meaning some attendees were unable to view the ceremony properly.

The work will also ensure the wall’s ongoing safety and stability.

Trees which are currently eroding the wall’s foundation will be removed but will be replaced with newly planted ones nearby.

In addition, a new pedestrian access point will be created to include a ramped path, ensuring the area is more accessible for wheelchair users.

The Glasgow Street boundary walls, which are also in a poor condition, will be given a full cosmetic overhaul to preserve their integrity for the future.

Additional works funded by the community will have red bricks used on the pathways in an echo of last year’s impressive display of ceramic poppies around the Tower of London.

Reverend Jim Smith from the nearby EU Congregational Church who served as an army chaplain in the Parachute Regiment for 27 years welcomed the plans. He said: “I think it’s an excellent project for the local schools and the community to be able to view the Remembrance parades safely and use the space afterwards for quiet contemplation.

“Wheelchair users have in the past been shoved in a corner, so the new ramp will be very helpful for them.” Jim, together with other community members, will be holding fundraising events over the next few months with the aim of raising the £15,000 necessary to provide the red brick paving.

It’s hoped the refurbished garden will be ready for this year’s Remembrance Sunday parade.

Councillor for Ardrossan Peter McNamara has been working closely with church groups and other community figures to get the project off the ground. He said: “This is a true partnership between community and council creating a memorial garden that can be used for quiet contemplation and for the ceremony of Remembrance Sunday and of course brides will no longer need to walk down Glasgow Street to have their photos taken with the new access from the Civic Centre.

“It has been a pleasure working with the churches group for over a year to put this plan together.

“Now we need the community to support us to complete the vision and create a memorial garden to be proud of.” Ardrossan Councillor and NAC’s Cabinet Member for Place Tony Gurney said: “Our investment will enhance this site for future generations, make the area more accessible for residents and provide a fitting backdrop for upcoming Remembrance events.

“The project will be completed as part of the Council’s ongoing maintenance and repair programme and reflects a wider community desire to improve the site.

“It is also hoped that the planned upgrades will encourage local schools to develop a series of projects aimed at exploring the impact of conflict on the area.”