North Ayrshire’s Depute Provost Robert Barr has officially unveiled Radio City Association’s Electric Valley base offering a new mobility hub.

Councillor Barr stated that: “The facility will be of great benefit to the health and wellbeing of people in the Garnock Valley, developing the Electric Valley projects and also offering sustainable and affordable transport options for local people.”

The opening of the mobility hub is seen as the first step in the Radio City Association’s ambitious Community Asset Transfer of the Knox Institute to transform the building, first opened in November 1892, into a centre for social enterprise.

The mobility hub will offer local people access to state of the art electric bikes as well as an electric car and van.

Radio City Association’s Electric Valley project will also be managed and developed from the new facility.

The Electric Valley will see the revenues generated from the community owned renewable energy projects re-invested fully into the local community.

Allan Wilson, Secretary of Radio City Association said: “The opening of our new office allows us to further develop our bold plans for the Valley, allowing us to create jobs, grow the local economy and combat climate change with the aim of improving life for people in the Garnock Valley.”

Councillor Jim Montgomerie North Ayrshire Cabinet Member for Green New Deal and Sustainability said: “The Electric Valley project is an excellent example of how we can achieve our net-zero goals with the leadership of our local communities, securing a just transition and providing opportunities for Community Wealth Building.”

The project is being backed by Paths for All and their behaviour change programme.

This is supported by Transport Scotland and aims to encourage walking, cycling and wheeling for short, everyday journeys and sustainable, shared or public transport for longer trips.

The programme also aims to help cut Scotland’s carbon emissions and improve our air quality. It will also help reverse the trend towards sedentary lifestyles and will tackle health inequalities.

It has already allowed for the recruitment of a local young person who will also be supported to gain new skills. The project will also enable the development of a mobility app that will support local people moving around the Garnock Valley.

Graham McQueen, Paths for All’s Smarter Choices, Smarter Places Manager said: “We’re really pleased to support Radio City Association with a grant from our Smarter Choices, Smarter Places COP26 Legacy Fund.

“Electric Valley is one of only six projects in Scotland to be awarded a grant from this fund which aims to support initiatives with a focus on both sustainable transport behaviour change and wider environmental issues.

“Radio City Association’s new mobility hub is a fantastic resource for local people looking to use electric vehicles which will reduce the need for journeys by car.

“Fewer cars on our roads means less emissions, cleaner air and this new hub, supported by a new member of staff, will give local people more opportunities to make journeys that benefit both their own health and the health of the planet.”

Graham added: “The wider Smarter Choices, Smarter Places fund is still open to applications from anyone looking to encourage more walking, wheeling, cycling and sustainable transport.”

For queries relating to Radio City Association contact Scott Wilson scott@radiocityassociation.co.uk or call 0300 3020 365