£6.4m to transform the Doon Valley
Doon Valley is in line for a huge £6.4 million investment to deliver 22 projects promoting the area’s historic coal mining past.
An extreme mountain bike track in Dalmellington and improved visitor offerings at Dunaskin Doon Valley Railway are just some of the schemes on the way.
A new path could run from Loch Doon to Patna linking Dalmellington, Bellsbank and Waterside. And Lugar church would be transformed into a heritage centre. Fifteen apprentices are to work on landscape management in the former coal mining area.
East Ayrshire Council has scooped £2.2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to make it happen. The rest of the money will come from the council and other bodies.
Commenting on the boost, Council leader Douglas Reid said: “It will bring a lot of money into the area to compliment the work we are doing. We are looking at cycling routes and there will be restoration work on the environment.”
The SNP politician said another aim is to “tell the stories of the mining communities.”
The council’s most recent executive committee meeting signed off early plans to get work started on the plan - called the Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership. Councillors gave the go-ahead for a project supervisor and two officers to be hired.
Research will be carried out into the history of the lost villages of Lethanhill, Burnfoot and Benquhat in the Doon Valley and Commondyke and Darnconner in the Lugar Valley. Another project would see coalfield place names explored.
Some of the projects are as follows: The Dalmellington Old Kirkyard is to be spruced up with the renovation of the MacAdam Mausoleum. An area spanning 25 hectares could be planted with wildflowers.
A mountain bike project in Dalmellington would see 18 young people recruited and events taking place.
There are hopes to plant 54,000 locally grown trees on open cast sites. Peatland spanning 100 hectares is to be restored. Work is to take place to improve the quality of the River Doon and Lugar Water.
The projects will be rolled out over the course of five years.
The Coalfield Communities Landscape Partnership aims to support natural and cultural heritage projects with new footpaths, habitat improvements and tourism ventures among other improvements.
It will bring a lot of money into the area and compliment the work we are doing