New community space opened by Provost

A colourful new area has been officially opened in Kirkintilloch - offering people the chance to relax, socialise and enjoy a trip back in time.

Provost Gillian Renwick opened the new Townhead Square Community Space on Friday (12 August).

It is designed not only to be a place of relaxation, but also to pay homage to the area's strong community spirit and rich heritage.

The regenerated - and iconic - red phone box recognises the historical importance of the town's iron foundries, while the olive trees conjure memories of when Kirkintilloch was at the frontier of the Roman Empire. The trees are around 150-years-old and it is hoped they will produce olives.

The project has been led by Your Kirky (aka Kirkintilloch Community Council), using its own funds and support from Scotland Loves Local, as well as help from a range of partners.

Provost Renwick said,

Well done to all the volunteers and partners who helped to create this new area, which offers people a tranquil place to sit, relax, have a chat or reflect on Kirkintilloch's history and spirit."

Nigel Rooke of Your Kirky added, "This really is a tribute to what can happen when everyone joins forces and works together for a community goal.

"All the volunteers at Your Kirky want to change our town for the better and we believe everyone has a part to play. Our hope is that projects such as the Townhead Square help people to remember what a great place this is, to take pride and to love Kirky a little bit more!"

Special boards have also been installed by Your Kirky:

• The Rainbow Of Hope was created with local school children and originally installed in Regent Gardens in December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The two large iconic images of Kirkintilloch are made up of individual photos taken by members of the community in spring 2021, again during the pandemic. The project asked people to capture images of things that helped them or gave them hope during that difficult time.

The boards have QR codes which give an insight into how they were created, including video. You can also check out Your Kirky social media channels facebook and Twitter

Tribute has been paid to everyone who worked with Your Kirky to deliver and maintain the new Townhead Square Community Space, including: Caulders Garden Centre, Kenwil Print and Design, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Sainsburys plc, East Dunbartonshire Council and Kirkintilloch Baptist Church.