“The fight to save Kirktonhall is over” The announcement was made by Kirktonhall Creative Media Group last Tuesday after the failure of group members to support a vital AGM.

This followed a difficult six month-struggle to secure funding for the project.

Kirktonhall Creative Media Group had been forced to arrange a second meeting after just a handful of locals turned up to the initial AGM in June.  But despite warnings that the group would be forced to close unless enough people attended, the second meeting also failed to get the necessary attendance – resulting in KCMG’s dramatic announcement.

It will now donate more than £3000 raised by local Councillor Elizabeth McLardy to help with repairs and maintenance of the village hall.

Its other assets and resources will be donated to local groups for the benefit of the community.

The historic building was put back on the open market earlier this year, after delays to efforts to secure external funding.  A statement from the group said: “The Kirktonhall Creative Media Group has faced a number of challenges over the past six months and sadly its fight to save Kirktonhall is over.

"Despite the group’s best efforts to highlight the urgent need for members to attend the AGM, on Monday 6 July, the quorum was not met.

"The trustees will now begin the process of dissolving/winding-up the organisation.

“We hoped that our members would make the effort to come along and support the organisation, and we are very grateful to those who did, but sadly we didn’t get the numbers we needed to keep the group going.

"There has been a lot of work put in over the past four years and it’s a real shame to see it go to waste.

"At least some of the assets can be repurposed and put to good use within the community”.

“Over the last four years, the group has benefited from the support of North Ayrshire Council, Awards for All, The Architectural Heritage Fund, Historic Scotland, NDA, Magnox and Energy Solutions. Its trustees, old and new, greatly appreciate the support and enthusiasm shown by these organisations and by the local community.

“KCMG’s current assets will be donated to an organisation(s) with a similar purpose, preferably to the benefit of the local community.

“Local Councillor Elizabeth McLardy raised £3064 for the group, when she walked the West Highland Way with her grandson in 2013.

"The money raised was purely for the purpose of restoring Kirktonhall, as this is no longer possible for the group, the group would like to reallocate the funds.” Kirktonhall Creative Media Group plans to transfer the funds to the village hall on the week commencing Monday 27 July.  Any donors who object to the funds being reallocated should notify Kirktonhall Creative Media Group, in writing, before Saturday 25 July 2015.

All correspondence should contain: full name, address, amount donated, method of donation and a short statement.