AROUND £150,000 of town centre improvement funds will be used to support four community projects in Stevenston and the Garnock Valley.

North Ayrshire Council (NAC) has announced the cash boost after cabinet members agreed to allocate the remaining balance from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund.

The scheme was launched in 2019/20 and NAC has received almost £2 million over two allocations, with money going towards a range of projects in Dalry, Kilbirnie, Millport and Stevenston.

These previously-approved projects are now complete, resulting in a leftover pot of £147,092 which has now been allocated to the four other schemes.

Among the projects that will receive money over the coming months are the Dalry Play Links – the installation of three unique play features in Beith, Kilbirnie and Dalry - and the upgrade of the Lover’s Walk link to Dalry Station.

The Pop Inn, Stevenston, will receive support to repair its building as the final part of the Stevenston shopfronts scheme, while money has been allocated to help with the creation of the new multi-functional Stevenston Community Hub.

Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for economy and climate change, said: “We are delighted to agree this allocation of funding to some excellent projects.

“We are sure the officers who are working on them, and of course the community, will be thrilled to learn that they have additional funds to help bring plans to fruition.

“We look forward to seeing things moving forward over the coming months.”

The Town Centre Fund was developed to enable local authorities to support their high streets to be more diverse, sustainable and successful in the face of changing and evolving retail patterns.

Full details of the latest North Ayrshire projects to receive support are:

  • Dalry play links: £30,000 to support the delivery of the Lochshore Play Links project in the Garnock Valley. This will see the installation of three unique play features in Beith, Kilbirnie and Dalry which are reflective of the unique heritage
  • Dalry active travel improvements: £91,306 to support the upgrade of the Lover’s Walk link to Dalry Station to improve active travel and support the B714 upgrade
  • Stevenston shopfront improvement scheme: Additional £5,786 to support works to the Pop Inn, thereby expending a total of £286,500 on the 100 per cent funded shopfront improvement scheme in Stevenston town centre
  • Stevenston Beach Hub: Supporting the creation of the new multi-functional community hub located adjacent to Stevenston shore. An additional £20,000 is being allocated to support accessibility and environmental improvements at the hub.