UPGRADED SNOW SPORTS CENTRE GETS GO AHEAD

UPGRADED SNOW SPORTS CENTRE GETS GO AHEAD

East Ayrshire Council has granted planning consent for two new dry ski slopes and a new community clubhouse designed by architects Lawrence McPherson Associates, to replace the existing 1970's complex on the slopes to the North of the town's High Street.

The original ski slope will be replaced by a 115 metre long adult ski slope and a 30 metre nursery slope. A new community clubhouse with a café, gym, changing rooms, conference and ski hire facilities will also be provided.

In addition to snow sports and associated activities the community clubhouse will be used to deliver a wide range of activities and services to meet the needs of the local and wider community.

Bobby Pollock, chairman of the Newmilns Snow and Sports Complex (NSASC), the charity which runs the slope, believes that the complex could be one of the best ski and activity centres in Scotland if the funding bid for the project is successful.

The Board of NSASC has put together a grant submission for the Big Lottery Fund and is talking to a number of private investors to raise the £2.9m required to build the complex. The scheme has already received £150,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to draw up the ambitious plans.

If the overall funding bid is successful, building work on the complex is likely to start next autumn.

Bobby said: "Ski-ing has been part of life in the Irvine Valley since the ski slope was built in 1975 and we feel it is vitally important that people in the South West of Scotland continue to have the opportunity to participate in snow sports.

"The new slopes have been designed to offer facilities not just for beginners but also for more advanced ski-ers. We believe that the new, improved facility will increase the number of users significantly."

Jim McGinlay, Associate with Lawrence McPherson Associates, said: "This project has been fantastic to work on partly because of the enthusiasm of Bobby Pollock and the rest of the Board who have worked tirelessly for nine years to get this important community development off the ground.

"The centre has suffered from a lack of investment for many years and it would be great for the local community to see it redeveloped to provide an important sporting facility in the area, which will attract a new generation of winter sports enthusiasts."

Founded in 1994, Lawrence McPherson Associates is celebrating its fifteenth year in business. The company has grown by significantly over the past five years thanks to major clients like Whitbread plc, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Shire Housing Association, Ayrshire Housing and Stewart Milne Holdings.

The Practice enjoys Investors in People status and positively encourages and facilitates the attainment of additional skills and qualifications by members of staff. The Practice is also currently recruiting staff for its development programme and encourages fresh talent to join the firm during this period of expansion.

Issued by BRIGHT Public Relations Ltd
On behalf of ARCHITECTS, Lawrence McPherson
Associates

For further information please contact:

Christine Ferguson
BRIGHT PR on 0141 248 1234
Mobile 07753 573 706
christinef@brightpr.com

Published: 20 Oct 2009, 14:07