Members of East Ayrshire Council's Cabinet toured Cumnock and Doon Valley to mark the conclusion of the Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership (CCLP) projects, which have injected nearly £6.5 million into revitalising areas devastated by the collapse of the opencast mining industry.
Funding and Partnerships
Since the first investigations in 2016, and project inception in 2020, funding and in-kind contributions from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Scottish Government, East Ayrshire Council, and project partners have supported 22 projects across Cumnock and Doon Valley. The tour included Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, Depute Leader Councillor Jim McMahon, and Councillors Claire Maitland, Neal Ingram, and Drew Filson.
Ochiltree Community Hub
The first stop was the Ochiltree Community Hub, epicentre of several CCLP projects including the “Sense of Place” project led by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. This project encouraged residents to explore natural and cultural heritage through participatory workshops. The hub itself, regenerated from a former library by 12 local residents in partnership with East Ayrshire Council, Ayrshire and Arran Health Board, and the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Place Based Investment Fund, now promotes multi-generational activities, healthy living, educational opportunities, and healthcare access.
Lugar Water Walk and Woodlands
The Lugar Water Walk, carried out with East Ayrshire Woodlands and Ayrshire 360, improved a 14.5km path from Lugar to Cumnock and Cumnock to Auchinleck Estate. Apprentices from East Ayrshire Woodlands gained new skills and qualifications while enhancing connectivity for sustainable travel and healthy exercise.
Oral History Project
The “Life in the lost villages” oral history project, run with the University of Strathclyde, captured stories from villages that existed before mining's decline, including Lethanhill, Burnfoot, Benwhat, Commondyke, Damconner, and Glenbuck – birthplace of Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly. The stories were recorded in a book, “Memory, Mining and Heritage: Voices from Ayrshire Communities”, with an exhibition hosted at Cumnock’s Baird Institute, the National Mining Museum, and now permanently at the Boswell Centre.
Green Spaces and Cycling
In Cumnock, the Tower Street Pocket Park, run by Cumnock Action Plan and Green Action Trust, transformed a vacant site into an accessible green space with raised beds, tool storage, interpretation boards, and seating. The Netherthird Community Action Trust's “Hedgerow Habits” project planted trees and hedges across the Netherthird Community Garden and Community Woodland. The Doon Valley Inclusive Cycling project, by Dalmellington Parish Development Trust, established an inclusive cycling track and hub to boost visitor numbers and business opportunities.
Doon Valley Railway
The Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group's project at the Doon Valley Railway in Dunaskin/Waterside improved the café, renovated a wagon shed for visitors and a narrow gauge railway, and erected a new shed for restored rolling stock. Funding has secured the railway's future, increasing capacity and community-led tourism.
Councillor Douglas Reid said: “While we had a busy day visiting these sites, meeting all the volunteers and people who have invested their time and effort into these projects, what we saw was only a fraction of the amazing work achieved by the Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership during its time in existence. The great thing is that in bringing people and communities together to instigate real and lasting change, they’ve also boosted confidence, created bonds and pride in the areas with a legacy which will continue well into the future. In East Ayrshire we’re all about people and partnership working to the benefit of everyone who works, lives and visits our area. These 22 projects are a fine example of how much we can achieve by bringing together enthusiastic people who are passionate about their history, their culture and their landscape, and using that to bring tangible benefits to their communities, boosting health, wellbeing and prosperity as we go, creating bonds which will last long beyond the scope of the funding. Whether it was creating beautiful breathing spaces, great pathways for all to use, or restoring pride and recording important tales for posterity, it’s clear to see how this work has gone a long way to triggering vital, meaningful, and lasting improvements in quality of life for these communities. I’m sure I’m speaking for all my fellow elected members in congratulating all those whose fantastic efforts have pulled off these projects and I’m sure this good work will continue through the links made, and the knowledge that with determination and partnership working everyone can do their bit for their own local environment.”
