Newmilns & Greenholm Community Action Plan

2021-2026 Profile

1. Brief Description and History

1.1 Early History

Evidence of early habitation can be found across The Valley, with the earliest sites dating from around 2000 BC. To the east of Gowf Course, evidence has been found of the existence of a and a Neolithic burial mound lies underneath the approach to the seventh green. A site in Henryton uncovered a Neolith barrow containing stone axes (c. 1500 BC) and a dating from about 1000 BC (the cairn itself contains cists which are thought to have been made by bronze weapons or tools).

Following this early period, from around AD 200 evidence exists of not only a Roman camp at , but also a Roman road running through The Valley to the coast at . The camp was uncovered through quarry work taking place south of Loudoun Hill but tragically much of this evidence has been lost. According to local workmen, many of the uncovered remains & artefacts were taken with the rest of the quarried materials to be used in road construction projects.

Typically, little is known of The Valley's history during the Dark Ages, but it seems likely that an important battle was fought around AD 575 at the Glen Water. In addition, given the strong strategic importance of ' position as a suitable fording place and a bottleneck on one of 's main east-west trade routes, it is not unlikely that other battles and skirmishes occurred during this period.

The period AD 800 - 1200 can be characterised by the presence of a motte and medieval earthworks north of , the remnants of a medieval castle and lime-kilns to the west of Woodhead Farm and a profusion of forts across Loudoun . These have been attributed to the presence of in the area. 1.2 of Barony

Newmilns became a free Burgh of Barony on 9 January 1490, a privilege bestowed upon George Campbell of Loudoun (and consequently the people of Newmilns) by King James IV. This was an important stage in the development of Newmilns as it granted liberties over control of the local economy, the right to elect local Baillies and necessary local government officials and the right to hold weekly markets and annual fairs.

Newmilns is 's oldest inland burgh, ahead of (1507), (1509) (1510), (1527) and (1592). The granting of burgh status is generally recognised by residents of Newmilns as the birth of the , hence the quincentenary celebrations in 1990. Newmilns was upgraded to a Burgh of Regality in 1707 and became a in 1834.

1 1.3 and Conflict

The establishment of Loudoun Kirk about two miles east of Newmilns marks the earliest known Christian worship in the area. The building is generally accepted as having been erected in 1451, although this has been disputed. To accommodate Newmilns' growing population, a chapel was erected in 1530 and became the main parish church at some point after 1600 (It is speculated that this happened in 1738, with the erection of a church on the present day Main Street site of Loudoun Church, but no evidence exists to confirm this. Latterly, Newmilns had three distinct congregations and church buildings: Loudoun Old (), Loudoun East (Free Kirk) and Newmilns West (United Presbyterian). The West Church congregation was dissolved in 1961. The East Church and Loudoun Church congregations amalgamated in 1980, and Loudoun Church is now the main place of worship in Newmilns. The disused church buildings were demolished in 1961 and 1986 respectively, with West Church Street and East Church Court marking the former whereabouts of these buildings.

Around 1520, a local farmer and Lollard called Murdoch Nisbet produced the first Scots Language version of the . At the time, it was illegal to possess a layman's copy of The , with the offence punishable by either imprisonment or death. This, coupled with the political persecution of Lollards, forced Nisbet to flee the country. Thankfully, Nisbet was eventually able to return and upon his death, bequeathed the book to his son. It was subsequently passed down through generations of the Nisbet family before coming into the possession of the , where it remains today. In 2003, a new housing development was named Murdoch Nisbet Court in his honour.

The century following Nisbet saw yet more religious upheaval. In 1638, the male head of every household was required to sign the National Covenant which brought all concerned under threat of religious persecution. On 1st June 1679, a large taking place near Loudoun Hill was attacked by a company of dragoons, led by John Graham of Claverhouse. This encounter was to become known as the Battle of and saw the successfully rout Claverhouse's forces. It is known that Nisbet's great-grandson, was present at Drumclog, as were Newmilns residents John Gebbie and John Morton, who both died during the battle. From this, it is highly likely that many more Newmilns residents were in attendance.

Alongside Gebbie and Morton, Newmilns claims several other Covenanter . A memorial stone in the grounds of Loudoun Church records the names of Matthew Paton (captured during the Pentland Rising and executed in on 19 December 1666), David Findlay (shot in Newmilns by order of General Dalziel in 1666), James Wood (captured at the Battle of Bothwell Brig and executed at Magus Muir on 25 November 1679), James Nisbet (executed in Glasgow on 11 June 1684) and the aforementioned John Nisbet (fought at Pentland, Drumclog and Bothwell Brig, captured during a service in Fenwick and executed at Kilmarnock Cross on 14 April 1683). A stone plaque in Castle Street also records the name of John Law, who was shot in April 1685 while successfully helping eight Covenanters escape their imprisonment in Newmilns Keep. 1.4 , Lace and Industrialisation

Towards the end of the 16th century, Hugenot refugees settled in the area and introduced Newmilns to the craft of weaving. About two centuries later, Britain began importing cotton from the United States and as Newmilns by this time had a long- established weaving tradition, the town's handloom industry rose to national prominence. The success of this industry can be seen by the growth in population from around 500 in 1750 to 2,000 in 1850. Newmilns also became very prosperous during this period, evidenced by both buildings around the Cross and the institution of the Trades' Race in 1743, which became an annual event for many years to come.

2 Born in Newmilns in 1821, Joseph Hood became a major player in the lace industry. By the age of 21, he had already developed, manufactured and supplied many Jacquard Looms and throughout his life, was responsible for many weaving innovations. Handloom weaving however was in decline. The introduction of the power loom in 1877 and general move towards automation left many weavers unemployed, resulting in a population drop as many left Newmilns to find work. Joseph Hood and his colleague, Hugh Morton, installed a lace curtain machine in Newmilns in 1876 and very quickly, others followed suit. Within ten years, a further eight companies had formed, providing work for over 1,500 people.

The success of the lace industry prompted a boom in the urban development of Newmilns. The town expanded rapidly in all directions, particularly to the east of the townfoot and south into Greenholm, with areas such as Loudoun Road, Road and Borebrae seeing the erection of many villas for Newmilns' growing middle-class. This was further augmented by the creation of council housing during the 20th century, primarily in Gilfoot, Mason's Holm, Campbell Street and Ladeside. Expansion slowed however as the lace industry fell into decline during the 20th century, with foreign competition, World War I, the and World War II all contributing to the loss of markets and access to raw materials. Only two lace mills remain in operation, MYB Textiles and Haddow & Aird. 1.5 Modern era

Newmilns has suffered a significant drop in employment through the aforementioned decline of the lace industry, the closure of the Bleachfield, the railway station, the Cooperative and many other major employers including most recently, the Vesuvius plant in Brown Street. Many shopkeepers and tradesmen, who were dependent upon the business of locally employed residents have also gone out of business. This is reflected by the transformation of Newmilns from an industrial town into a commuter town, which is evidenced by a higher-than-average proportion of Newmilns' residents having to travel to their place of employment and a drop in population from a pre-war 5,000 to less than 3,000 today. 1.6 Landscape

Newmilns lies at the foot of a glaciated valley and is mostly surrounded by farmland and woodland. Of particular interest is the Lanfine Estate, which lies to the south of the town. The estate, although much older, came into the possession of the Brown family in 1769 and expanded from an initial 400 acres (1.6 km2) to over 10,000 acres (40 km2) by the end of the following century. The Browns' management of the estate not only oversaw this vast expansion of land, but saw many improvements to the land itself, including a large afforestation program (resulting in the present-day Lanfine Wood), the erection of a stately home and three gatehouses, the installation of Browns Road (which runs from Newmilns to Darvel and allows access to the estate) and the introduction of small game to the area. 2,200 acres (8.9 km2) of the estate were bought in 1982 and development has continued, which most notably saw the introduction of to the estate during the 1990s. Today, both Browns Road and Lanfine are popular walks for residents of Newmilns.

3 1.7 Townscape

Newmilns extends for about two miles along the narrowest part of The Valley and roughly follows the course of the river. Most of the town sits on the north side of the river; the south side remains less developed, despite being generally flatter. Newmilns' urban development is reasonably easy to chart - as the town extends from The Cross to its outskirts, newer buildings become more abundant and the A71 gradually widens. In recent years, redevelopment of disused factories and buildings has brought new housing into older areas of the town, although some of these buildings have retained their original facade.

Newmilns' most significant buildings are concentrated in and around The Cross. The townhouse was built in 1739 and is a sign of Newmilns' prosperity during the handloom period. The townhouse steps led to the council chamber, and the side door (on the Main Street) led to the jail underneath. The town bell (housed in the belltower above the building) is engraved with the date 1547, predating the building below. At the far end of The Cross from the townhouse is the Browns Institute, which was given to Newmilns by Ms Martha Brown (of Lanfine) in 1872. Across the road stands the Loudoun Arms, which was built during the 18th century.

To the east of The Cross can be found three adjacent buildings, the Commercial Inn, Morton Hall and Lady Flora's, which date to 1869, 1896 and 1875 respectively. Both Lady Flora's and the Commercial Inn have since been turned into housing, but have retained their original facade. The Morton Hall still serves as Newmilns' town hall, however with regionalisation in 1975, responsibility for the hall was transferred to Kilmarnock & Loudoun District Council (now Council), taking it out of the hands of the Newmilns' townsfolk to whom it had been given.

Standing behind The Cross in Castle Street, The Keep (occasionally referred to as Newmilns Tower) is Newmilns' oldest building. The building dates from the 1530s and was probably built by Sir Hugh Campbell (not to be confused with either Hugh Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell of Loudoun or Hugh Campbell, 3rd , who both lived much later). Over its history, The Keep has served many purposes, including being used as a barracks, prison, grain store, doocot, band hall and beer cellar. After falling into a state of disrepair for many years, it was restored in 1997 and now exists as housing.

On Brown Street at the Greenholm Bridge stands Lamlash House (formerly Bank House) an imposing red standstone property of traditional Scots vernacular architecture which was built from 1888-1889 by Robert Carmichael , the local Bank Agent and Match Manufacturer in Glasgow. The land on which the house sits was purchased from Ms Martha Brown of Lanfine Estate. In the entrance staircase of the house, there are five Stephen Adam designed stained glass windows which feature images of James Hogg, Sir , , Robert Tannahill and . Each of the windows contains a floral panel which links back to the image of Flora, the Roman Goddess of flowers and the season of spring. The property was Listed by in 1992 and since 2006, has undergone a major programme of internal and external restoration works to ensure its longterm integrity.

The Bank vacated the ground floor of the property in 2015 after over a century and a further programme of restoration has been carried out to reinstate the Victorian detailing which had been removed in the past. The former Bank is now used for private events and functions. 4

2. Population

Newmilns Population 2001 to 2018

3,200 3,166 3,100 3,000 2,925 2,900 2,800 2,700 2,600 2,500 200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018

Comment The population of Newmilns has decreased by 13% since the 2001 census, from 3,166 in 2001 to 2,759 in 2019 (according to www.statistics.gov.scot). This compares to 122,010 in East Ayrshire (increase of 1.5%) as a whole, Galston with 4,750 (decrease of 5%) and Darvel with 3,837 (increase of 14%). This reaffirms the widely held view of many in Newmilns of a declining population and a forgotten town.

Total Population and age structure Age % of Newmilns Percentage of Population Scotland population

Under 5 4.8% 5.5% 5-15 12.3% 11.8% 16-29 16.1% 18.5% 30-44 18.5% 20.0 45-59 23.1% 21.1 60-74 17.4% 15.5 Over 75 7.7% 7.7 Source: Scotlands Census 2011, Locality area

Age Population Under 16 455 16-64 1,729 65 & Over 616

Key Issues and Trends The following statements are taken from “EA Local Housing Strategy Annual Update 2020” published by EAC in November 2020 and includes statements reflecting East Ayrshire as a whole, separate data for Newmilns is not available.

 Population projections indicate a declining population in East Ayrshire.  The population of older people (pensionable age and older) is expected to increase from 20% to 27% between 2018 and 2043, whilst the populations of children up to 15 and those of working age are set to decrease significantly.

5  East Ayrshire rents and house prices are lower than average, with house prices showing limited growth and private rents stagnating.  Between April 2019 and March 2020 75.8% of people in East Ayrshire were economically active compared to 77.1% in Scotland overall. 8.3% of households were claiming out of work benefits compared to 6.5% across Scotland.  Employment is similar in East Ayrshire as Scotland as a whole, with 74.3% of people in employment and 74.8% across Scotland.  Life expectancy in East Ayrshire is lower than that of the Scottish average for both males and females.  93% of the population of East Ayrshire classifies themselves as White Scottish. This is much higher than the Scottish average of 84%.  East Ayrshire has higher levels of poverty than the Scottish average. In addition, there are sharp contrasts in the prosperity of communities across East Ayrshire, with some experiencing significant disadvantage while others are relatively affluent. In the north of the Authority, high levels of deprivation co-exist with the relatively wealthy commuting population.

3. Housing

In regards to housing statistics for Newmilns & Greenholm community, there has been very little change in the housing landscape. There is a demand for more family housing types to be available, as primarily housing type tends to be compromised of smaller one/two bedroom. These properties historically would have been occupied by those employed in the local lace factory industry. Newmilns and Greenholm housing is composed of different ownership types, from privately owned/rented to social housing from housing associations and East Ayrshire Council. There are 375 council owned properties in the area, 36 tenancies with Shire Housing as well as 223 privately rented homes. There are other housing providers in the areas including likes of Trust Housing, Lady Floras who have sheltered housing tenants and Murdoch Nesbit serving tenants over the age of 60. In recent years the town has seen a number of properties demolished (e.g. Kilnholm Street, Nelson Street), or be identified for demolition. No replacement housing has been built on these areas and they currently lie neglected. In general, there are demands for family housing in the area, however there are no future plans for development at this time. Plans for housing at Nelson Street were rejected by SEPA on the grounds of future flooding, though this is being pursued by East Ayrshire Council to try and reach an agreement to allow housing to be built. The demand is not just for new Council housing, there is also a lack of private developments of family housing. There has been a noticeable over supply of small flats, in many cases of poor quality with absent landlords buying up cheap properties with a quantity over quality mindset. The commonly held view around housing in Newmilns is that there is a lack of new housing, more houses are being demolished than built and there are too many one bedroom flats for rent compared with demand.

6 4. Employment and Local Economy

4.1 Overview With the loss of the majority of lace factories due to the decline in the industry and more recently the significant reduction in jobs by Vesuvius, employment in local businesses has declined over the past years with residents now having to commute for work. In 2009 Vesuvius announced they closed their factory, at the time they were the biggest employer in the Irvine Valley. Vesuvius still have manned offices in Brown Street, but the factory has remained empty since. In 2022 the lease for the factory comes to an end. However, Madrass Lace is still being produced in one of the factories in the town on Stoneygate Rd, making it the only factory in the world to produce this type of lace. The combination of reduced footfall along with the change in shopping habits has resulted in the closure of local shops. This is not unique to Newmilns and is representative of what is not only happening in neighbouring but the rest of the country. However, Stoneygate Road is home to a few businesses who between them employ over 200 people and combined have an substantial turnover of over £14.5m. It is hoped that future development to this area will attract more businesses and bring more employment opportunities for local residents. Newmilns is home to a diverse range of small to medium size businesses covering areas such as art and design to groundworks and landscaping. There are many cottage industries who are able to sell their products locally and beyond with the use of Facebook and the internet. Newmilns is also home to a number of farms with mainly, sheep, beef and dairy cattle. The farms also produce the likes of tomatoes and potatoes to supply local businesses. 4.2 Employment figures

While employment figures themselves are not available to us, we have instead to look at that information available to us, plus we have to bear in mind that any data is a little dated. But that doesn’t stop us extrapolating what we do have to give us a rough picture.

We start with the population figure from above, this shows a population in the 16-64 age group of 1,729. Of these, some from the younger end will still be in full time education, including college and university. We will also have those from the older end who may be early retirees as some private pension schemes would allow retirement from 50 plus. The data below is from May 2020:

In Newmilns (number of residents in receipt of):

Universal Credit 340 Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) 19 Income Support (IS) 17 Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) 140 State Retirement Pension 601

7 5. Education

5.1 Newmilns Primary School and Childhood Education Centre

The main primary school for the community is Newmilns Primary and Childhood Education Centre.

It is situated on Gilfoot, Newmilns and covers childcare for 3-5 years old and P1-7. The nursery offers the delivery model of 1140 hours free early learning and childcare.

Nursery, Out of School Care, Playgroup, Childcare: Name No. of places

Newmilns Nursery 43

Education: Schools Number of pupils Newmilns Primary School 90

The primary school has an enrollment figure of 90 children as of term 2019/20. This figure has decreased from previous years as shown below:

120 Newmilns Primary Enrollment No. 100

80

60

40

20

0 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019 2019/2020

Newmilns Primary Enrollment No.

5.2 St. Sophias Primary School - Galston

Newmilns children also have the option of attending the Catholic faith school St Sophias Primary School in Galston. For children in Newmilns the school provide buses that pick up throughout the valley. A £2.8 million transformation of the school site was recently approved, effectively saving the school.

8 5.3 Loudoun Academy - Galston

The Secondary education needs of Newmilns are met by Loudoun Academy, built in 1971, it is situated near Galston and serves the Irvine Valley. It has East Ayrshire Leisure facilities on site included a 5G sports pitch and swimming pool which the public can use for a fee.

5.4 Further and Higher Education

Further education needs are met in nearby situated on Hill Street, Kilmarnock – with other campuses in and their main campus being in Ayr. Higher education opportunities include the University of the West of Scotland Campus in Ayr, Scotland’s Rural College, Ayr as well as other universities in Glasgow/.

6. Health

GP/ Health Centre

Newmilns Surgery is part of Loudoun Medical Practice which consist of six general practitioners, practice nurses, district nurses and various other practice staff. The Newmilns practice is only open on a limited basis in comparison with the Darvel surgery. It is open each weekday morning from 9:00am-12:30pm, although the main services operate out of the Darvel practice which is open from 8:30am to 5:30pm For more information you can phone the practice on: 01560 320205 or go to www.loudoun-medical-practice.co.uk/newmilns .

Pharmacy Services

McConnell’s Pharmacy is the Local Pharmacy and works in partnership with the local surgery and is situated on Main street. The pharmacy can offer services including minor ailments scheme, support for quitting smoking and general medication advice/prescription services.

Dental Services

There is a Dental Surgery provided by East Ayrshire Dental, you can phone the practice on 01560 329 577 or visit their website at: www.eastayrshiredental.co.uk.

Opthalmic Services

There is an opticians, G.Reid Optiicans, you can phone them on 01560 322233 or visit their website at: www.greidopticians.co.uk .

Primary Care Services District Nurses, Physio, Podiatrist (part of the above practice)

Hospital & Acute Services Hospital situated in Cosshouse, Kilmarnock which includes outpatient / inpatient treatment departments, Accident & Emergency and Ayrshire Maternity Unit.

9 Care Facilities

There are supported living accommodations in the town including Lady Floras managed by Trust Housing Association. Lady Floras is situated on the main street of the town; is a listed building built between 1875-1877 and was originally a school for girls. Their sheltered accommodation is for those over 60 and is made up of 26 one-three bedroom flats. One of the other care providers in the area is Hanover Scotland’s property at Murdoch Nisbet Court. Within the complex there are 12 properties which are rented where different levels of care are available for tenants pending on their needs. Other care providers such as East Ayrshire Council departments jointly with Health and Social Care Partnership also offer home support whether that be through their social tenancy or private home for those who are over the age of 16 who may have additional support needs. Support Services The Breastfeeding Network

The Breastfeeding Network (BfN) aims to be an independent source of support and information for breastfeeding women and others. They can be contacted via [email protected] or on telephone number 07541 099200.

7. Leisure, Recreation and Open Spaces

Library

Newmilns Public Library is managed by East Ayrshire Leisure Trust and is situated on Craigview Road, Newmilns. It’s opening hours are Thurday 1:30pm-4:00pm, 5:00pm- 7:30pm, and Friday Saturday 10:30am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-3:30pm. The library offers it’s wide choice of books for all ages, computer use and printing facilities. In 2021 the library will be moving into the Morton Hall.

Village Halls/Community Centre’s

There are a few community spaces which can be used in Newmilns including a) Morton Hall.

Morton Hall was built in 1896 for William Morton before being gifted to the burgh two years later. It was used as a meeting place for the local community as well as being home to the local court for a period and the administrative centre for the burgh. The Morton Hall is a B listed building situated in the main street of the town and is a single storey, 6-bay, gabled Jacobethan-style public hall made of red Ballochmyle sandstone ashlar. The hall is managed by East Ayrshire Leisure and can be contacted direct to hire. The Morton Hall underwent the first phase of a series of refurbishment in Summer 2020 and completed late 2020. The phase allows the Morton Hall to accommodate the new library site in 2021, providing disabled access and new entrance. Further refurbishment of the Morton Hall is scheduled for 2021.

10 b) The Old Mens Cabin

The Old Mens Cabin on Browns Road is now the home for the Newmilns and Galston Brass Band. c) Masonic Hall

The Masonic Hall at 10 Greenside Newmilns, is the home of the Lodge Loudoun Kilwinning No. 51. d) Newmilns CHaT Hub

The Newmilns CHaT Hub is a community hub ran by the Newmilns Regeneration Association (NRA). The CHaT element of the name stands for “Community, Heritage and Tourism”. It is situated on Brown Street and was the former post office for Newmilns. The NRA rent the building from the Loudoun Valley Trust who purchased the building in 2017. During 2018 the NRA renovated and refurbished the building with the help of grants, tradespeople and volunteers. e) DoT Hub

Developing Opportunities Together (DOT) is a community hub bringing together a number of third sector organisations to provide outreach support services within the Irvine Valley. There is also opportunity for community groups in the local area to use the hub and for other organisations to provide training etc. to the local community.

At the moment we have East Ayrshire Advocacy, Ayrshire Council on Alcohol, Epilepsy Connections, Ayrshire Credit Union, Morven Day Services, Addaction, Ayrshire Carers Centre, Open Secret and Community Voice Network (CVN) all providing appointments and/or drop in services within the hub.

We also have Crossroads Community Hub who bring Fare Share to the hub once a week – food from Asda that is slightly damaged/nearing best before date that would otherwise go to landfill is brought to the hub and distributed for free to anyone who needs it. A timetable of when the differing services are available can be found on the CVO website. The hub is situated on Main Street. f) Church Halls

Loudoun Church have a separate church hall, while that for the Townhead Church is in the church itself. The Covenanters Church use the Morton Hall.

g) Childrens Play Parks / Play Areas

There are 3 play parks in Newmilns, these are located at:

 Jamieson Park  Greenside Park  Clearmount Avenue 11 h) Other open spaces, walks, seating areas etc Newmilns is very fortunate to have many little areas for sitting and enjoying the gardens from the top to the bottom of the town as well as countryside walks, these include:

 Lanfine Estate produces timber and offers the community environmental opportunities for walking or exploring the local forestry,  Irvine Valley Network Path,  The Brown’s Road (between Newmilns and Darvel),  garden area at top of Darvel Road,  seating area at Kilnholm Street,  Kirkgate Gardens,  Riverside gardens,  Nelson Street,  Nature Trail, at the bottom of pit brae, beside the fire station.

8. Social Community

NOTE: A number of the meetings, activities and events within this section are subject to change (venue / time / date) or cancellation during the pandemic, with some meetings or church services held virtually. We have attempted to show timings during “normal” times.  Community Development

a) Community Council – Morton Hall – Last Wednesday of the month 7pm to 9pm

What is a community council? Community councils are public representative bodies. They are made up of groups of people who care about their community and want to make their area a better place to live. There are 35 community councils within the East Ayrshire area.

What do they do? Community councils act as a voice for their local area. They express the views of the community they represent on a wide range of issues of local concern, to the Council and other organisations. Community councils also raise funds from various sources for local projects and events like gala days or providing Christmas lights for their community. Community councils get to put forward their views on local planning applications and on which premises in their area can sell alcohol.

b) Newmilns Regeneration Association – CHaT Hub (Browns Road) Last Monday of the month 7pm to 9pm

Newmilns Regeneration Association is a voluntary organisation concerned with preserving the heritage of Newmilns and promoting regeneration within the town. They work closely with East Ayrshire Council and are looking to secure a Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme for Newmilns with Historic Environment Scotland and the funding that goes alongside this in the near future.

12 The group have been involved in securing the red planters, benches and litter bins which decorate the town. They have repurposed the Old Post Office into a Community, Heritage and Tourism (CHaT) Hub, this is now the groups headquarters and is available for use by other groups in the community. The group recently secured funding to install two Defibrillators within the town, working with St Johns Scotland they should be available early 2021.

The group are also involved in organising the Newmilns Food Festival (currently scheduled to return in May 2022), annual Christmas events and an Easter Egg Hunt.

c) Campbell Area Tenants and Residents Association (CATRA)

CATRA is a Newmilns community group founded 12 years ago, working on behalf of the Tenants and Residents on a vast range of housing issues. These include environmental issues, repairs, anti -social behaviour, flower displays and Christmas displays. d) Gilfoot & Crescent Community Action Group

This is a newly established group in 2021. Their aim is to make Gilfoot & Girvan Crescent Safe ,Friendly and welcoming environment to live and raise families and get the community involved. To listen to all residents regardless of how long they have abided in the estate. Everyone is welcome to comment with any ideas or improvements they think can be made. e) The Rotary Club of Loudoun

Their mission is to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build peace and goodwill. Their president is Robin Moir and can be contacted via email [email protected]. f) The Inner Wheel Club of Loudoun

Inner Wheel was founded in Manchester, England in 1924, with the Loudoun district being formed in 1980. The objects of this service organisation are to promote true friendship; to encourage the ideals of personal service and to foster international understanding. The group meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm at the Fenwick Hotel. The contact is Anne Morton. g) Loudoun Valley Trust

Established in 1993 (formerly the Newmilns Trust until 1998). The objectives and principle activities of the trust are:

. Provide or assist in the provision of public facilities for the inhabitants of the landward area from to (which includes Hurlford, Galston, Moscow, Newmilns, Darvel and Priestland) and the areas surrounding them including in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation.

. Relieve the poverty of the inhabitants of the the said area by countering the effects of social and economic welfare therein.

. Preserve and protect or assist in the preservation and protection, for the public benefit of land and buildings of historic or aesthetic interest and the environment generally in the said area. 13  Outdoor Activities & Sports

h) Newmilns Ski and Snow Complex - High Street

This is a community run charity ski slope who recently received a massive upgrade to their facility with the opening of a separate Tubing slope. Their ethos is to provide affordable access to snowsports for all. They offer 3 main products: skiing and snowboarding tuition as well as big slope tubing for those who can't ski or board yet.

i) Loudoun Gowf Club – Newmilns Road

An 18 hole golf course and clubhouse, formed in 1908. The first question usually asked about Loudoun Gowf Club is why "Gowf Club"?

It would appear that the Gowf Field of Loudoun, so called as far back as records are available, was the private Gowf field of the Loudoun family and had been in existence from the early sixteenth century. Gowf has been played on these fields for over 400 years. It is believed that this ground has never at any time been under the plough in all these years. One can therefore appreciate why the turf at Loudoun is unique and probably among the finest of any inland course. Indeed, Hampden Park, the legendary home of the Scottish national football team, was returfed from the rough along the road side around 1920.

j) Newmilns Bowling Club – Nelson Street

Membership is open to all members of the community, but is not required to attend events at the club. The best time to join the Club is in the Spring before the bowling season gets underway. The lounge hosts many functions and is also available for hire for charity events, parties etc.

k) Cycle Station – Main Street

Cycle Station is a not for profit social enterprise and company set up to help communities overcome barriers towards cycling. It currently operates a community based bike workshop and refurbished bike shop. It accepts donations of unwanted or unloved bikes and use the bikes to train cycle mechanics to community groups and individuals before donating or reselling them at affordable prices back to the community.

l) Walking:

14 As well as the many areas around Newmilns and the Irvine Valley for walks there are also a number of events and groups with walking at their heart:

 Irvine Valley Walking Festival

Also known as the Valley Walkfest, this takes place over a weekend in May. There are a series of walks throughout the Irvine Valley, of different lengths and ability. They also have different starting points throughout the Valley towns. Some are themed such as the Bat walk and History walks, while others are aimed at certain groups such as schools or those walking for their health. The group publish brochures in advance of the festival detailing all the events, starting points and times.

 Gillians Walks

This group was set up by a girl who just likes walking. Her website documents a large number of walks, including a number around Newmilns and the Irvine Valley. The online resource provides a map showing the route, level of difficulty as well as total distance. Gillian also arranges walks and advertises these on her facebook page.

 TWALK Group

The TWALK group is an informal walking group with walks organised on a regular basis, with walks throughout the Irvine Valley. Twalk stands for Talk & Walk, which is reflective of the social nature of the group.

“We usually walk every Monday morning, meeting at Darvel square at 9.30. We do a mixture of local and away walks usually around 4-6 miles in length. During the walk we enjoy a break in a coffee shop. The walks are free and those taking part are responsible for purchasing coffee and snacks. The TWALK group also organises summer evening walks on a Tuesday evening starting at 7pm. The evening walks usually take place between April and October but do not include a coffee stop.” m) Football Pitches – Jamieson Park (including the Pavillion) n) Cage – Multi Sports – Jamieson Park o) Newmilns & Greenholm Angling Club

Newmilns Angling Club permits are available from the Premier Shop at the Cross in Newmilns. The club control the fishing permits for the in Newmilns & Greenholm and will also make the required returns to Marine Scotland. The permits allow fishing for and salmon along specific areas of the river only.

Contacts include President – Roy Thomson; Vice-President – Hugh Easterbrook 07788658953; Treasurer – Ron Chesney 07734914954 and Secretary – Jason Smith 07800599999

p) Pigeon Club – Darvel Homing Society – Stoneygate Road, Newmilns

15 Established in 1889, the society takes in Darvel, Newmilns, Galston and Moscow and race pigeons from 60 to 600 miles. The society meets weekly during the summer months and show the pigeons during the winter months. The club meet in Stoneygate Road in Newmilns. Contact is via Hugh Wallace (Secretary) on 01560 322569 or T.Haggerty (President) on 01560 320639.

q) Yoga Classes – Morton Hall

Carol Cooper runs yoga classes at the Morton Hall at various times throughout the year. These seasonal yoga classes suit everyone, with beginners welcome. The classes are developed to help stretch your body and calm your mind. The first class is free to see if yoga is for you, then classes are booked in blocks of 5. Previously Carol has held 2 classes on a Tuesday night in the Morton Hall and one on a Friday late afternoon at the Barrmill Hall in Galston. To book call Carol on 07779 474529.

 Leisure & Recreation

a) Loudoun Mains Country Club

Loudoun Mains is situated in a commanding position on the hills overlooking the lush green rolling pastures of the Irvine Valley. Loudoun Mains farm was originally the home farm of Estate with links going back many hundreds of years. Now it has been thoughtfully converted over a 20 year period into 15 luxurious self catering holiday cottages and an extremely well equipped Country Club with swimming pool, sauna and two gymnasia.

Loudoun Mains Country Club offers various types of swimming lessons for all ages. They have swimming lessons for babies from 6 weeks up, traditionally graded lessons from age 3 up to 12 yrs old and one-to-one lessons for adults. The pool is ideally suited for these swimming lessons with the water temperature maintained at a very comfortable 31 degrees throughout the year. Our pool has a viewing lounge which enables parents to watch what is going on in the lessons without being in the warmth of the pool room. Most lessons have a maximum of 6 pupils with 2 qualified adults in the water. This gives the children a very unique ratio of 1:3, with individual tuition being specifically given to each child during the lesson. The children progress within a fun and safe environment, where emphasis is placed on development within each child’s ability.

b) The Ladies Social Club

Newmilns Ladies Social club has been an ongoing part of the community for over 30 years. Its main aim is to provide a full night of entertainment including a concert and a hearty meal for the over sixties of Newmilns. In order to perform a concert each year lots of fundraising and planning is required. It is a voluntary organization and the ladies involved give up their time energy and skills so that the fundraising can be achieved.

c) Gala Committee

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The main aim of the Gala Committee is the organisation of the Gala Week. This takes place every 2 years, with the next now scheduled to take place in 2022. Fundraising events are held throughout the year. The Gala parade includes floats and we would encourage as many groups, organisations, businesses or communities within Newmilns to step up to enable this tradition to continue. d) Galston & Newmilns Brass Band – Browns Road

Newmilns and Galston Brass Band is the oldest surviving brass band in Scotland. The old Newmilns Burgh Band was formed in 1833 by a group of handloom weavers and had many successes over the years in regional and national competitions. In Galston, the band started as a reed band in 1872 promoted by the Gauchalland Coal Company, but within a few years had converted to brass as the Galston Burgh Band. It too had a long and successful life, but in 1990 both Irvine Valley bands amalgamated and soon regained their status as one of the country’s leading bands.

Now based in the former Old Mens Cabin in Browns Road Newmilns, the band rehearse on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. Currently graded in the First Section of the National Championships, the band fulfills local engagements as well as competing regularly in contests maintaining a long musical tradition within the Irvine Valley. e) Irvine Valley Mens Shed – Browns Road

The Irvine Valleys Men's Shed group is a place for local men to meet, share and learn new skills and pursue hobbies and interests. f) Irvine Valley Dog Training Society – Morton Hall

Irvine Valley Dog Training Society is a long running dog obedience and ring craft club which is affiliated to the Kennel Club. Classes are held on a Wednesday evening from 7pm to 9pm at the Morton Hall, Main street Newmilns. All levels of are welcome with classes for: Puppy socialisation; puppy good citizen; Beginners obedience; Bronze Good Citizen; Advanced & competitive obedience; Silver and Gold good citizen. The object of our club is to promote good responsible ownership of all dogs and encourage a happy relationship between dog and owner as well as the public. g) Newmilns & Greenholm Senior Citizens Club – Nelson Street

The club meet at the Newmilns Bowling Club on Nelson Street each Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm. It is a social occasion to meet up over Coffee and Cake, with a variety of activities including bingo also taking place. The Club is open to both men and women.

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h) Newmilns Burns Club

The focus of the club has been to promote in the 5 Valley Primary Schools the works of the Bard. Their Burns Supper is the culmination of each school speaking competitions where the individual winners from each school compete for the Irvine Valley Junior Master of Burns. The major speeches are delivered by senior pupils from Loudoun Academy. The format has proven popular with pupils, teachers and parents. The contact is Stuart Lyon on 01560 321679.

 Children and Youth Groups

a) Girl Guiding Scotland

Girl Guiding Scotland is the leading charity for girls and young women in Scotland, supporting 45,000 young members and 11,500 amazing volunteers.

Girlguiding helps members discover their full potential by having fun and enjoying new adventures. There are four sections that girls can join, all of which are available for girls in Newmilns. For more information with regards the groups you can contact Lorna McGee, Division Commissioner for Upper Irvine Valley on 07523 243338. The groups are:

o Rainbows Aged 5-7yrs - an exciting programme for girls aged 5-7 to learn and grow through having fun, going on trips and adventures – both in their regular meetings and at special events. Girls get their hands dirty, do arts and crafts, try different sports, get in touch with nature and play games with friends. They can work towards interest badges, where they can learn about everything from recycling to storytelling, and start their skills builder journey, by trying new things like camping, developing leadership skills and learning first aid.

o Brownies Aged 7 -10yrs - Brownie units bring girls together to help them discover new hobbies, get creative, explore other cultures and have outdoor adventures. Girls meet regularly to work on badges, learn new skills, play games and see their friends – and there are also opportunities to go along to special events, like sleepovers and camps.

o Guides Aged 10-14 yrs - Guides have an exciting and varied programme designed to inspire, challenge and encourage girls to make a difference in their community. Guides is an excellent opportunity to get out there and do something really different. Girls create their own campaigns, learn and share new skills and fly down the

18 occasional zip wire. They explore new places like camps, trips and enjoy exciting events like Tartan Gig.

o Rangers Aged 14-18yrs – Upper Irvine Valley Seniors Rangers: Rangers is all about taking the lead and finding new challenges. Our programme of interest badges, skills builders and awards supports young women to try new things, travel the world and develop skills across our six themes. Being a Ranger is also all about taking action and giving back to the community. You’ll meet up regularly, do fun activities and get recognised for your achievements with badges and awards. Plus, you’ll get incredible opportunities to develop essential skills like leadership, build a network of friends in your area and enhance your CV.

b) Scouts Scotland

We are the largest mixed volunteer-led Movement for young people in Scotland. We offer fun, challenge and life changing adventure to almost 40,000 young people in Scotland, who are supported by over 12,000 adult volunteers.

Scouting exists to make young people’s lives better, helping them to realise their full potential, and providing them with the skills they need to succeed in life. The groups are:

o Beavers Aged 6-8yrs - For our youngest members, Beavers is all about having fun, making friends, and learning new skills. Beavers meet weekly to try out a huge range of activities, which might include science experiments, crafts, den building and more. We also go on day trips, sleepovers and camps, giving many Beavers a real adventure - their first night away from home!

o Cubs Aged 8 -10½ yrs - Joining Cubs opens up a new world of fun and adventure for girls and boys through access to a massive range of exciting activities including camping, adventurous activities, such as climbing and sailing, plus creative and cultural pursuits. At weekly meetings, Cubs are encouraged to challenge themselves to try new things and are rewarded for effort, teamwork and leadership.

o Scouts Aged 10½ -14 yrs - From getting involved in the local community to travelling on international camps, Scouts have plenty of opportunities to develop independence and a sense of adventure. We encourage Scouts to have a say in planning and developing the activities and projects they want to take part in, giving them the chance to put their teamwork and leadership skills into practice.

o Explorer Scouts Aged 14-18yrs - Explorer Scouts are always on the go! You’ll find there’s always something to get involved with whether it’s an international expedition, adventure camp or community project. Explorer Scouts have the opportunity to take on CV-boosting accolades, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or our own Queen’s Scout Award, and can develop leadership skills through the Young Leader Scheme.

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 Churches & Church Groups

c) Covenant Church

Meeting in the Morton Hall, the Covenant Church, together with their denomination, the Free Church of Scotland, subscribe to the Confession of Faith.

Their weekly schedule of services and events is as follows:

o Service - Sunday 10:30am to 12:30pm . Includes a Children’s Church and creche o Service - Sunday 6:00pm to 7:15pm o Service - Thursday 7:00pm to 8:30pm

d) Townhead Church

As part of the community of Newmilns for over 100 years, the Christians who meet in Townhead Church are keen to reach out to those who live around us, to share the good news from the Bible by preaching, teaching and living lives that show the love of Jesus.

Their weekly schedule of services and events is as follows:

o Communion Service – Sunday 10:00am o Family Service – Sunday 11:30am . Includes a crèche for babies and a Good News Club for Nursery / Primary children o Bible Focus – Sunday 4:00pm o Parents & Toddlers – Monday 10:30am o House Groups – Tuesday 7:30pm o Parents & Toddlers – Friday 10:30am o Prayer Meeting – Thursday7:30pm

e) Loudoun Church of Scotland

Their weekly schedule of services and events is as follows:

o Service – Sunday Service 11:00am o Coffee Pot – Coffee morning with homebaking at Loudoun Church Hall Thursdays 10:00am to 12:00pm o Journeys with God – an informal Bible study and discussion group including a light lunch. Takes place at Loudoun Church Hall on Mondays 12:00pm to 2:00pm

f) SU Scotland - Gowanbank

Scripture Union is a Christian charity, a worldwide movement that began nearly 150 years ago. Gowanbank, situated between Newmilns and Darvel is a Christian Residential Activity and Conference Centre that was donated to SU Scotland in 2017 for this use.

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9. Transport and Roads

Newmilns is situated in the middle of the Irvine Valley on the A71 which runs from Ayrshire to Edinburgh. It is within easy travelling distance of Kilmarnock, Ayr, and Glasgow with access to the M74, M77 & M8 within 30 minutes. The A71 has not seen the reduction in heavy traffic hoped for following the opening of the M74 extension so Newmilns can get congested at peak times. Like the rest of the country, the road surface can be poor in places.

The bus service is provided by Stagecoach. On weekdays and Saturdays there is a bus to Kilmarnock every 15 minutes changing to every 30 minutes in the evening. On Sunday the buses are every 30 minutes changing to every hour in the evening. As there are no alternative providers, the cost of the fare for this route is more expensive than comparable routes. There is also one bus a day each way linking Newmilns with Glasgow, the X71 service. It departs Newmilns at approx. 6:55am and the return service arrives back in Newmilns at approx. 18:30pm. Outside of these times you can change at Kilmarnock and use the Number 1 service and the X76.

There is no train station in Newmilns with the nearest one being in Kilmarnock which is within walking distance of the bus station. From this station the trains depart for Glasgow and Carlisle where you can make changes for on-going journeys.

There is a purpose-built cycle path between Newmilns and Galston though no new paths have been created between Newmilns and Darvel with cyclists using the existing main and rural roads.

10. Utilities

Telecommunications

Recently telecommunication connections have been improved in the town with fibre broadband being available to the town. There are also various 3G/4G mobile network providers available throughout the town. Sewage

Although currently deemed as adequate the Newmilns area would benefit from a refurbished sewage/drainage system, especially if new housing or business development were built. Refuse

Regular collections are made by the East Ayrshire Council with separate collections for:

 Green Bin  Brown Bin (Garden Waste)  Recycling Trolley

21 Recycling

There are two recycling centres in East Ayrshire. The closest recycling centre is Western Rd Depot, Kilmarnock with the Cumnock point serving other areas in East Ayrshire. Recycle containers are available for uplift for households and businesses.

There are no Recycling drop off points in Newmilns, the nearest are located at Tesco in Galston. Gas/Electricity

Various providers are available and are considered adequate. Water

Provided by Scottish Water.

11. Emergency Services

Police

The nearest local Police Station is situated in Galston on Titchfield Street and 6 Police Officers cover the Valley Area.

Ambulance

Nearest Accident and Emergency is Crosshouse Hospital and there are also local paramedics for emergencies. The nearest Ambulance Station is situated on Western Rd Kilmarnock which serves the Irvine Valley.

Fire Brigade

We have our own Fire Station situated just before Newmilns Primary School as you come into the town from Galston and we receive an excellent service. The station is a part time and a retained service.

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