In the past few years we have lost a lot of our Towns attractions and facilities
· Kirk O’ The Covenant,
· Cathcartson Museum,
· Florist.
· Observatory.
· Etc.
As one of your local Councillors I say enough is enough.
We need to take action ourselves and that’s why we need your Help
Over the past two years I’ve been working on how to bring these lost assets back into our Community.
I believe the answer is to purchase The Kirk O’the Covenant Building for the
Community before it is lost forever. This, the most iconic building In the Town, which stands proud and is visible from all most of the approaches to Dalmellington.
Working alongside my colleagues in Dalmellington Parish Development Trust, we have applied for match funding to purchase the Building.
We should find out in May if our application has been successful.
Purchasing this 179yr old building is not the full story, we need to future proof this iconic asset for generations to come without its existence being constantly in question.
To purchase and just carry on as normal is just NOT an option
That’s why KOTC needs a lot of money spent on it.
To be able to make its own income, not with huge profits just enough to continue year on year with anything income being spent on the fabric of the building to enable it to become self - sufficient.
The project must avoid having to go back to the trust every year for a help out.
South Kyle Windfarm through the Community Benefit Fund has designated £700k for the next 4 years.
The Community Benefit for South Kyle is administered through Foundation Scotland.
£15k is also available from the Education and Training Fund per year which is already being used in the Community
£50k from the Community Fund per year is also being allocated in £12.5k amounts every Four Months
The £700K Flag ship strategic fund for designated for legacy projects.
The Trust has now set up to purchase land and buildings and early this year
we made our first building purchase by saving Dunaskin Bowling Green
140yrs old this year. The club house will double up as a small community centre for Waterside and Dunaskin Residents too.
My proposed Legacy Project Is called
When The Heavens Meet The Stars.
See link ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_7BzHeLap4 )to walk through video of proposals YouTube
The proposal is for Community Benefits with five funding streams
The decision by Scottish Dark Sky Observatory ( SDSO) to rebuild the Observatory Clatteringshaws Loch and take the treasured attraction away from Dalmellington was a blow, but i believe we can create an even better multifunction facility preserving and utilising the Kirk O’The Covenant
1. Observatory
My Idea is to build our own Observatory on the top of the church tower 20mts in the air. Well above the new Led Street lights.
This will be a small 2mt x 3mt Dome painted grey to look like a leaded roof similar to many old buildings
The dome will revolve 360 ° controlled from the control room below utilising Lady McAdams old cloak room.
The images of the dark sky will be live streamed from a 14’’ telescope
To a large screen in a new balcony that will be a 30 seat Observatory Auditorium with Planetarium which could also be used as a family cinema.
The Observatory will be linked to other Observatories in the UK and abroad.
On the nights when the skies are cloudy the observatories can share images.
This KOTC Observatory will be very accessible as most observatories are a five day camel ride to get to them.
A great educational tool for schools from EAC, SAC, NAC, D&G and further afield with plenty of parking at the church.
2. Museum
Underneath the Observatory Auditorium will be a new museum for Local
History
East Ayrshire Leisure will help us set the museum up
With EAL returning all the artefacts that were taken out of Dalmellington
when Cathcartson Museum closed.
This will allow tourists to see the local and church history in the one building with the cemetery nearby when searching genealogy.
Any old films about Dalmellington in the Museum can be seen upstairs in the observatory auditorium another good educational facility.
The Covenanter Society of Scotland have also been in touch after hearing about the community trying to purchase the church.
CSOS would like to relocate the Covenanters stone from the old grave yard
In Dalmellington to the church grounds making it more accessible
and allowing the society to have conventicles and events at the church.
There will be a card payment machine for anyone wanting to leave a donation to the museum or KOTC.
3. Body Of The Kirk
We would aim to re decorate retaining as much as possible to preserve the history and allow us to still offer the venue for funerals and wedding services as well as other public events throughout the year.
The church would still seat 250 people.
4. Vestry Tea Room
The Church Vestry would be transformed into a small tea room to provide for Coffees and teas, NOT meals, and Dog Friendly.
Entrance would be from the side door as you walk up to the cemetery
As we would only be selling teas and coffees cake and biscuits mainly for the footfall and visitors that go to and from the cemetery, or mourners after a funeral service who may not be able to make it up to the cemetery, can have a coffee while they wait on a family member coming back down from the graveyard.
We would in no way be in competition with local cafes who serve meals, on the contrary we would seek to actively promote all businesses in the town and direct visitors to these businesses when they were looking for lunch or dinner.
Opening time at The Vestry Tea Room would be 10am to 2pm
5. Florist
As a florist is missed in the village, we would aim to train someone in floristry
And feel The Florist being based at the Church would be ideal for Weddings and Funerals
Undertakers would be willing to use the Local Florist
Florist would decorate the Church for all special occasions.
These five funding streams will make enough money to make the church
Self - sufficient.
Other Investments Costs and Income
Energy
One of the significant reasons why Dalmellington Parish Church decided to move to the smaller Church at Bellsbank was the running cost for heating oil and electric for the Kirk O’The Covenant.
We believe that significantly reducing these costs is a key element in future proofing the building and to do this we propose to use renewable energy.
This would involve 74 solar panels on the south facing roof
Linked to two Tesla energy batteries which would power the majority of the needs of the church and run the Air Source Heat Pumps. These would provide Hot Water and Heating to all areas of the building.
Selling back surplus energy during the summer months to gain income making a huge saving with bills and a payment coming back to The KOTC account from Scottish Power.
I am also exploring the idea to install 3 Electric charging points, serviced from the church which could provide another modest source of funding for the building. Proving a Service as more and more people transition to Electric vehicles.
The Works
All renovation works and quotes have been sourced from local companies with some structural items sourced and recycled from the areas that are closed in the area centre making a huge savings, lift, stairs, and mezzanine. These will be used to create new balcony.
We realise the building needs a large amount of Community Benefit spent on it. but to future proof our main iconic historical building for generations to come we think it will be worth it.
A TRUE LEGACY for the Community as History will tell that this Community in 2024 had the foresight and took the collective decision to future proof a much loved and treasured building for Generations to Come.
9CCG is nine community councils who have come together to administer the huge Community Benefit starting August 2025 to what was the Old Cumnock and Doon Valley region coalfield area.
Millions of pounds coming to these coalfield areas over the next 25 / 30yrs
Community Funds that will allow these communities to rise all together.
Windfarm developers are now happy to give their large Community Benefit Funds into the 9CCG as the Governance of the huge fund is governed by East Ayrshire Council.
Over The Next 25 / 30yrs £150 million is expected to come in to these communities .
Dalmellington Parish share will be one of the largest out of the 9 communities
Exciting times for us all, but we will never have this chance again so it is important that this money is spent wisely on Legacy Projects like the Church to future proof the building for generations to come.
Costings
Estimated renovation works £150k
Estimated income £50k
Thank you all for taking the time to read this lengthy piece and hopefully viewing the video. It would be really good to have your feedback on my proposed project. This will give Dalmellington Parish Development Trust a direction on what the community feels about this project.
After all this is your Community’s Benefit.
Please Sign the Petition if you agree with future proofing the KOTC building.
Thank You Cllr Drew Filson.
