MEMBERS of Ardrossan Community Trust have asked for funding to hire a development manager for the project that aims to regenerate the town’s South Beach.

At a meeting of the Three Towns Locality Partnership, the group asked for a total of £45,000 to cover salary and costs of a community development manager who would oversee the project to transform that area of Ardrossan.

The Trust want to open a coffee shop along the promenade as well as build a new swing park along the length of the grass at South Beach.

Trust chairperson Scott Mould told the Locality Partnership meeting via Zoom:”We are looking to secure funding to support the initial 18 months of salary and expenditure for a Community Development Manager to ensure the project moves forward to commencement and completion and report to the Board of Directors.

“The Trust are currently negotiating with NAC over a 20 year lease for the land forming the promenade and a community asset transfer in relation to the toilet block itself. Community engagement has been extensive and we will shortly have a report on this along with an additional report on the Social Return on Investment.”

Speaking after the meeting, Scott told the Herald: “We have applied for funding for the post and we hope that we are successful, it now has to go forward as a bid but it would allow someone to focus their time on taking the project forward.”

The Trust is about to release the findings of its consultations with both the public and residents of South Crescent.

Scott added: “We have specialists collating the information and comments and we hope to release these very soon. It’s good to see people in the town working together to help us take the plans forward.”