This year’s Calor Scottish Community of the Year, Communications Category, Award winners in Girvan have applauded the support that the area has received from regeneration agencies.

The award recognises efforts made by community groups to communicate with and involve local people in their activities. The Girvan bid highlighted both the local website and the work of the Community Council-backed Girvan Gateway project. The latter is a multi-million pound regeneration project currently seeking Big Lottery Living Landmarks funding.

People behind these projects were quick to acknowledge the support that they receive from South Ayrshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire.

Paul Nellis, Chair of Girvan Online, commented: “We are very pleased that the good work of people in the Girvan community has been rewarded through the achievement of this national award. To be recognised as the best in Scotland really is an excellent achievement.

“There are too many people involved to be able to thank them all individually. We should, however, make a special mention of the support that has been given by Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, South Ayrshire Council and by Awards for All (who funded the Co-ordinator for Girvan Online). Scottish Enterprise has given direct financial support to both Girvan Online and the Girvan Gateway project. By funding Girvan Horizons, the local economic development agency, it has also been able to offer professional support to these projects”

South Ayrshire Council also funds Horizons and a key factor in achieving this award has been the support provided to Girvan by the Council, particularly the funding that it provides for regeneration activities in the area.

Alec Clark, who is chair of both the Girvan Community Council and Girvan Community Developments Limited, the company that is leading the Girvan Gateway project, said, “The working group that the Community Council set up to make progress with the harbour project has always had good working relationships with the Council. Members of staff in the Regeneration Section of Social Work, Housing and Health have been working with us to turn around the fortunes of this area. We look forward to a continuing partnership that will help our major regeneration initiatives to bear fruit.”

Councillor Gibson T. Macdonald, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, congratulated the people of Girvan on their achievement, saying, “I was delighted to learn of the award, and I congratulate all who are associated with the two projects on the success that they have achieved.

December 2006