Following a public consultation, East Renfrewshire Council is proposing that local charity, Include Me 2 Club, create a social enterprise hub, café, bike workshop and public toilets which will be used by the local community and visitors to the park.
The project is part-funded by the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and renovation works, led by Procast, began on Monday 10 May, with contractors aiming to complete the handover to Include Me 2 Club in October. During this time, the Gate Lodge building will be fenced off to the public.
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East Renfrewshire Council Leader, Tony Buchanan said: "East Renfrewshire Council is committed to upgrading the facilities within Cowan Park, so I am delighted to see that works to bring the Gate Lodge back to life are getting started. Cowan Park is a fantastic public space which already provides the local community and beyond with opportunities for sport, exercise and play - this project will not only provide additional, much-needed facilities, but it will also provide job and training opportunities through the work of Include Me 2 Club. I very much look forward to seeing the public enjoy this wonderful building."
Paul McIlvenny, Include Me 2 Club SCIO chairperson, said: "We are delighted to be working on this project with East Renfrewshire Council to bring about the changes to a fantastic community asset that will benefit so many people within the organisation, and have a wider community impact. We can't wait to bring this building back to life, with a coffee shop, bike hub, meeting spaces, public toilets and creating new jobs, alongside training and employability opportunities."
