Move to breathe new life into Dalry Community Centre

24.01.2023 - 11:39 / dailyrecord.co.uk

Moves are under way to breathe new life into Dalry Community Centre.

The building, owned by the St John’s Town of Dalry Community Properties Trust (DCPT), has seen little usage in recent years.

But now a new steering group and management committee is determined to make the property become a busy social hub once again.

Immediate plans include a community consultation on how best to develop the facility with a view to securing its long term future.

The survey went live online this week and paper copies will be distributed across the Glenkens in the next few days.

Michele Owen, a member of the five-strong steering group, said: “There was a nursery using the community centre but they left and Covid stopped everything for a while.

“The trust then held a public meeting to decide next steps and at that meeting the majority wanted to keep the community centre so lots of people can use it.

“So we formed a steering group and a management committee to set the ball rolling.

“The management committee does the day to day running of it while the steering committee is in charge of funding, building work and renovation and the community consultation.”

Doubt has surrounded future use of the building since Covid disrupted social activities,

It has been under the ownership of DCPT since 2016 when the property was acquired from the council for £1.

Registered childminder Michele, 48, regards the upcoming consultation as vital to gauging local opinion on the best way forward.

She said: “We want people to let us know what they want and what they need. We will try and do what we can to support that.

“The community centre really is a massive space with two halls and a carpeted area so several different groups could use it at the