Seasalt Streets initiative to boost businesses in Saltcoats

The 'Saltcoats is the Business' project aims to highlight the importance of the town's shops, stores, traders and workers to the local economy, residents and visitors.

And the group - whose efforts so far include transforming the town centre with murals and flowers to give the place a brighter look - has urged businesses to sign up to the initiative and help give Saltcoats a major boost.

They said: "Many of our local businesses are basically Saltcoats institutions that have been in the town for many years.

"It is also great to see some are relatively new businesses that are playing an equally important role in making a positive contribution to our community.

"We believe that our aim to develop and regenerate Saltcoats as a great place to live and visit is beneficial to our town but also business owners."

Some of the recent SeaSalt Streets projects (Image: Newsquest)

The campaign aims to highlight the importance of the town's shops, celebrate the diversity of businesses available, and focus public attention on what they bring to the local economy.

It will also highlight the role workers in these businesses play in building social connections with locals and visitors.

James McGinn, of SeaSalt Streets, said: "Our main aim is to regenerate and promote Saltcoats to locals and visitors and make the place look a bit better.

"The campaign is important because businesses in Saltcoats are really vital to the economy - not just in terms of what they sell, but in making connections with local people.

"This plan is about engaging with local businesses and saying 'tell us about yourselves'. We will take some photos and arrange a short video interview where they will tell us all about the business, what they offer, how long they have been here and why people should visit.

"Their stories will then be shared on social media. Hopefully, it will have an impact, with people saying Saltcoats is the place to be and getting new businesses in too."

James added: "We are also trying to gain access to vacant shops and put foam boards in the windows to brighten them up, but we are finding it difficult. It is not for want of trying but in some cases, it is difficult to deal with absent landlords.

"We just want to get colourful boards up to make the place more presentable.

"I think Saltcoats has been neglected for many years, with not enough investment. We are not just talking to people in the town centre, we are also talking to shops in the housing schemes, corner stores etc.

"We have just become a constituted group and many businesses are already supporting us."

If you share their vision for Saltcoats and wish to promote your business, you can contact secretary Annie O'Rorke at armannie@live.co.uk or send a message via the SeaSalt Streets Facebook page.