Funding secured for Outdoor Pursuits Training and Education Centre

Date: 
Friday, 29 January, 2021


Funding of £1.1 million has been secured by East Dunbartonshire Council to create an innovative community-run facility - Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Training and Education Centre.Twechar centre - graphic

The canal-side resource will offer a range of activities - such as canoeing, kayaking, cycling, climbing and walking.

It will also provide a base for new educational, training and voluntary opportunities - helping to promote regeneration and address disadvantage in the area.

The project has been awarded £1.1 million from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund*, with the Council’s Capital Investment Programme also providing support - in addition to other potential external funding sources. The overall cost is an estimated £1.6 million.

The development site is Council-owned and sits adjacent to the Forth and Clyde Canal, just off Main Street - at the northern entrance to Twechar.

Councillor Vaughan Moody, Leader of the Council, said, "This is great news and will help us to fulfil ambitious plans with the community to create an innovative new outdoor resource - complementing local facilities and attracting visitors to the area.

"The fully-accessible centre will benefit residents of Twechar and wider East Dunbartonshire, schools, and a range of public and voluntary sector organisations. Well done to all involved for their hard work so far."

Councillor Andrew Polson, Leader of the Council, added, "The project will continue the regeneration of Twechar by bringing a long-vacant site at the canal back into use - creating a new community-run facility which can offer active pursuits to promote health and wellbeing, as well as services and opportunities for employment, training, volunteering and the economy.

"The development will also enable wider regeneration of the canal-side site and chimes with national and local strategies for regeneration, as well as Twechar Place Plan."

Community involvement has been key to securing funding and will remain at the heart of the project moving forward.Twechar centre - graphic - south-east view

Work has taken place with Twechar Community Action (TCA), which manages Twechar Healthy Living & Enterprise Centre and has been central to the transformation of Twechar over two decades.

TCA company secretary Sandra Sutton said, "This is brilliant news. I'm proud to say the idea came initially from Twechar Youth Group - it's great they have been listened to and the project progressed, with support from the Council. This community facility will offer recreational and educational opportunities for people of all ages."

As part of the delivery plan, a Project Steering Group will be formed - including representatives from the Council and local community.

Subject to design and planning work, construction could potentially begin this autumn, to be completed by autumn 2022. The Council worked with architect Cooper Cromar on preliminary design work.

* The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund is delivered annually in partnership between the Scottish Government and COSLA.

Twechar is identified by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation as an area of deprivation

Twechar Place Plan identified the canal as one of the key attributes of the village and the vacant, canal-side site as a priority for action to improve the northern entrance to Twechar, and to provide new facilities and opportunities for community benefit

Artist's impressions courtesy of architect Cooper Cromar. Please note, these are early designs and subject to change.

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