The Garmouth and Kingston Amenities Association has confirmed it is working on establishing a community facility, after receiving financial assistance from Scottish and Southern Energy.
Following receipt of £50,000 funding from the SSE Beatrice Community Fund, the association has been able to complete the purchase of a building that was previously a house located on Garmouth’s high street.
The property is called McLean’s Building, and will soon be transformed into a community centre by the Garmouth and Kingston Amenities Association committee.
The committee had originally planned to acquire the former post office on Church Street, but that property was bought before they knew if their bid to the Beatrice Community Fund had been successful.
However, Marina McLennan, chairwoman of the Garmouth and Kingston Amenities Association believes the location of the McLean building “couldn’t be better”, because it is beside the village’s sensory garden, a plot of land that was refurbished last summer with vibrant flowers to help individuals suffering from dementia.
Mrs McLennan emphasised the need for the community hub for residents:
She said: “There isn’t an awful lot in the village currently for the community. We have walkers and cyclists going through and there’s a lot of history to be discovered, but nowhere to find out about it.”
The community amenity benefits the village by providing locals with a wide range of necessary facilities and utilised in a variety of ways.
Some of the possible uses include a meeting place for local organisations, a base to provide information on important matters such as the A96 dualling project, an access point for tourist information and a place to sell produce and works of local artists.
The committee also plans to organise a homework club for young people, who will be taught by retired teachers in the community.
Mrs McLennan added: “We wanted to create a centre point for people to come and gather, which will bring people of all ages out to socialise and visitors can see what the village has to offer.
“The committee is working really hard to breathe some life back into the village.”
It is hoped the new facility will be up and running by next spring, but the committee is appealing for people to get involved with fundraising and volunteer to assist in the building’s renovation.
