A group dedicated to reviving the fortunes of an Ayrshire town has reported a “tremendous response” from retailers eager to take up the opportunity to improve their shop fronts.
The Maybole Regeneration Project last month issued a call to retailers advising them of a special grant which could help improve the aesthetic of the town's High Street.
Now scores of businesses in the town have expressed an interest in grants of as much as £3,000 which are funded via South Ayrshire Council from the Scottish Government.
In a statement, Maybole Regeneration said: “We had a tremendous response from shop owners in town for the shop improvement grants and are working with owners to develop their plans.
“These will then be submitted for planning permission and work started in the early spring.”
In addition, the group is close to announcing an update on their preferred contractor's plans for the restoration of the town’s historic Town Hall.
The building is expected to be revitalised as part of a five-year multi-million pound package of measures designed to improve shop fronts, restore historic buildings including the Town Hall, Speaker's Club and the castle; widen pavements and cycle paths and see the installation of traffic calming measures.
A National Lottery grant of £1.670 million, awarded to The Maybole Regeneration Project in 2020, will see a range of improvements.
A statement from the group revealed: “We will soon have news on the preferred contractor for the Town Hall and again aim to be on site early spring.
“It will be a busy time for construction projects in Maybole’s High Street over the next two years and we will work with businesses and residents to minimise the disruption while ensuring full, safe access so locals and visitors can continue to shop and use services in the town centre.”
The town has been in the headlines after the new £29m Maybole Bypass was officially opened by Scottish transport minister Jenny Gilruth.
The opening of the bypass brought to an end a 50-year campaign by many locals who lobbied tirelessly to have a new road build to help ease traffic congestion in the heart of the town.
It is hoped that, with the new bypass in operation, other improvements in the heart of town will start to take shape.
As a result, Maybole Regeneration is asking those in North Carrick what changes they’d like to see going forward.
The group has issued a survey and it’s hoped the people of North Carrick will play their part and respond.
A spokesperson said: “This is for everyone who lives in or near North Carrick, not just residents in Maybole.
“With the bypass open and improvements on Maybole High Street getting underway, we want to update the information that we have about how people use the town and how it can be improved.
“As someone who lives in the area, young or older, please give us a few minutes of your time to fill in the short survey.”
You can complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LBXLJ8Y
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