AN EXTENSION to Glengarnock’s Ironworks Bowling and Community Club that will make the building more accessible to those in wheelchairs will be formally unveiled in a ceremony this month.

Taking place on Sunday, August 21, between 1.30pm and 2pm, the ceremony will be attended by local politicians such as MSP Kenneth Gibson.

The new extension has been funded by sportscotland and will include a new section to the premises as well as a ramp entranceway.

Trustee James Gibson said: “This is probably the first major investment in the club for 100 years and we are one of the very few bowling clubs who have been awarded a charitable status.

“In 2018 the club converted into a registered charity with the aim to increase access to the sport of bowling and more widely to enable the facility to become more of a community asset.

“Most of the community halls in the village have all disappeared over time so there’s almost nothing left for things like Christenings, birthday parties, or group meetings.

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“Hopefully now we’ve got a set of facilities that will enable that to happen.

“There’s a disabled ramp all the way down from the car park and there’s a new disabled toilet facility with changing access which is accessible for people to use without the main clubhouse needing to be open.”

The ceremony will consist of a short set of speeches, after which Kenneth Gibson will cut the ribbon to unveil the plaque commemorating the extension.

A pipe band consisting of schoolchildren will also be present to play before and after the ceremony has begun.

After the ceremony, attendees will be invited to join a game of bowls or simply stick around to chat and become frequented with the addition to the grounds.

First opening in 1857, the club received support from the local steelworks as a sporting and social club for workers.

After the steelworks closed in the late 70s the grounds were passed to the Scottish Development Agency and in 2018 the club reached an agreement with Scottish Enterprise that resulted in the club buying the land.