A Steering Group in Newmilns, East Ayrshire, has been working over the last five months on a community action plan for the town.

Residents and businesses have been engaging with the local community to hear their thoughts on the town, as well as what can be done to improve the area over the next five years.

Following an extensive survey process, a Community Open Day was recently held and hundreds of local residents attended. The event allowed locals to choose which issues should be included in the Newmilns Community Action Plan.

The ideas which received the strongest support were:

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• Taking stronger action on landlords who do not maintain buildings

• Developing more sports facilities

• Improving parking

• Dealing with derelict buildings

• Retaining the town library, Morton Hall and pavilion

• A community clean up.

Mo Templeton, Steering Group member, is quoted as saying: "We are absolutely delighted that Newmilns folk turned out in their hundreds to decide on the priorities for their Action Plan. This will add weight to the Action Plan and show that it is truly a community led process.

"We are hopeful that this will lead to some positive changes, with support from East Ayrshire Council but also by the community getting together to make things happen. We had over 100 people leaving their contact details so that they could get involved in projects and action groups to take forward the priorities in the Plan."

The next step is to prepare and publish the Action Plan document and start to take forward the priority projects by setting up Action Groups. The Newmilns Community Action Plan is one of seven being supported by East Ayrshire Council this year, as part of the LEADER funded Ayrshire 21 Programme.

(JP/IT)