A unique approach to forging a new future for three North Ayrshire towns has picked up a special national award.
Beith, Dalry and Kilbirnie are thought to be the first linked towns in Scotland to create a local place plan for a cluster of communities, rather than each working in isolation.
The result of that work – the Our Garnock Valley vision – has been described by the community alliance leading it as “next generation regeneration”.
And the trail that it could lead for others has been recognised with a Judges’ Special Award as part of the 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards, announced today (Friday).
That achievement will be celebrated at a Scotland Loves Local reception in the Scottish Parliament next month (November).
The special prize was presented after award judges heard how the Garnock Valley communities recognised the power of collaboration – working together to tackle common problems while also addressing individual issues in each town and surrounding villages.
Work has been led by a working group made up of Beith and District, Dalry and Kilbirnie and Glengarnock community councils, along with Beith Community Development Trust, Dalry Community Development Hub, Dalry Community Sports Club and Garnock Valley Youth Forum. It has been supported by North Ayrshire Council and funded by the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Fund.
Speaking on the group’s behalf, Helen McNaughton, chair of Beith and District Community Council, said: “Our Garnock Valley is an inspirational document with identified common themes and priorities for each of our areas.
“The vision is to make things better – to improve our areas for our children to grow, our communities to grow and for people to live, be employed and have happy lives in the Garnock Valley. We just want to make things better.
“We’re really proud to have taken this work to the place it is now.”
The Garnock Valley has struggled over many years to move the dial on post-industrial challenges following the closure of traditional industries such as iron and steel.
Supporters hope that the Our Garnock Valley vision will help address much of that, with work underway to replace the working group with a new community-led delivery group which will employ a development worker to help implement the plan.
It highlights a string of aspirations which those involved are now exploring how they are brought to life, improving the places and boosting the economy. They include:
- Improving transport connections, including bus improvements, the reinstatement of Beith North Railway Station and linking Dalry with Kilbirnie and Kilwinning with a traffic-free cycling / walking route.
- Turning empty and unused town centre buildings into community and business assets.
- Establishing a Garnock Valley enterprise network / forum, to champion local businesses and co-ordinate community / Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
Reacting to the award news, Sheena Woodside, chair of Dalry Community Development Hub, said: “It’s amazing. This is the icing on the cake for us. It’ll help get the word out to more groups to get them involved too.
“There are a lot of things we would love to achieve. A lot of the smaller projects are doable and can happen quickly, so that people can see that things are working. One of the biggest prizes is public transport – being able to move around between towns more easily. That’s not a quick-fix, but it will be at the forefront of how we push things forward.
“It’s really important that the community know we are listening to them.”
The plan is aimed at covering everything to do with “place” across the Garnock Valley, encompassing planning, transport, public spaces, community development and empowerment, young people and jobs.
It also intends to be part of putting North Ayrshire’s trailblazing work on community wealth building into practice, with organisations of all kinds working together to achieve its aims.
At its heart is creating a successful place for living, working, visiting and investing in, making the area a better place for residents, businesses and visitors.
Hugh Campbell, of Dalry Community Sports Club, said: “I’ve lived in the Garnock Valley my whole life. It’s uniquely situated – only 20 miles from Glasgow, but only a jump over the hills to the beach as well. It’s a great place to be.
“I’d like to see more people stay in the Garnock Valley, trying to attract new business and make this a better place for people to live and work.
“The opportunities for the future are there. When you look at things in a wider – more holistic – approach, you realise that, if you band together, it’s easier to try and improve things.”
Implementation of the plan will include working with partners and the local authority.
Organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the Scotland Loves Local Awards recognise and reward all that’s great about the nation’s towns and neighbourhoods and the work to ensure they become stronger and more sustainable.
STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie said: “The success of the work in the Garnock Valley so far really demonstrates the power of collaboration – and can inspire other communities across Scotland to work together for the common good.
“What’s exciting here is that this is just the beginning. Our Garnock Valley is an ambitious blueprint. With that same spirit of determination and community-led action which has brought all involved to this stage, I am sure that so much will be achieved.”
Spearheaded by STP and supported by the Scottish Government, Scotland Loves Local is the movement encouraging people to create a better future for their community by choosing local. This is the fifth year in which the awards have been held.
