Pirnmill secures funding to complete purchase of community centre
Pirnmill villagers have received funding from the Scottish Land Fund to help finalise the purchase of their community centre.
Pirnmill Village Association has received £14,129 to buy the village community centre from current owners North Ayrshire Council and to continue to use it to host community events as it has been doing for the last 30 years.
The funding has been welcomed by the group which last September got agreement from the council to purchase the building under a community asset transfer agreement, as reported in the Banner.
Hazel Cranstoun, chairperson of the association, said: ‘We’re so grateful to the Scottish Land Fund for helping us create a fit-forpurpose, locally-owned community centre. It’s going to be game-changing to be able to extend our range of events, activities and services and bring so many benefits to island-wide organisations, as well as the village of Pirnmill and its residents and visitors.’
The centre is located in the heart of Pirnmill and is used for community and charity events. It is also used by the primary school in front of it.
The award is one of 14, totalling £1,269,683, that have been granted to projects across Scotland following the latest round of funding from the Scottish Land Fund.
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund committee chairperson, said: ‘The diversity of projects supported, and the range of communities leading them, shows just how much appetite and ambition there is for community ownership of land and land assets. We look forward to welcoming many more applications.’
The Scottish Land Fund programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.