The first of a series of significant visible advancements in the development of the Cumnock Town Centre Regeneration Project has taken place after Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, officially opened the Project Base in the Glaisnock Shopping Centre.

Councillor Reid said: "This will be used as a facility for providing information about the progress of the regeneration project. A great deal of progress has been achieved so far with our development partners, Deanway Development Ltd and the Muir Group; we have as a Council, been acquiring land ownership in the area to allow us to build our new office the design for which is well under way.

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"We also need additional land to extend the shopping centre with a larger supermarket and an improved car park. As always there is a lot being done which cannot be seen and this includes the development of various statutory plans. However detailed site investigations are due to commence this week - so from Thursday for a period of four to five weeks you will see action on the ground.

"The Princes Foundation for the Built Environment is completing its master plan for the development of Knockroon and we await this exciting report. We are working with the foundation to prepare for a wider enquiry by design stretching from New Cumnock through to Mauchline which will be a fantastic support to the Council in our overall planning of the area.

"The Foundation is now also a member of the Cumnock Town Centre Regeneration Project Group and their input will be invaluable," Mr Reid said.

Marion Gilliland, Chair of the Cumnock Town Centre Liaison Forum, said: "The opening of the Project Base in the Glaisnock Shopping Centre is a welcome and visible sign of this project developing. It has already inspired considerable confidence in local people and the business community that the regeneration of our town centre is coming to fruition."

(GK/JM)