Rebirth of Ayrshire town was as much about hard graft as it was handicrafts, writes Ken Mann

Now known as Scotland’s craft town, Ayrshire’s scenic West Kilbride is a shining example of how the perseverance and passion of a community can reverse decline and rejuvenate the high street.

Just 19 years ago, 21 out of 40 commercial premises were boarded up but now none are available for either rent or purchase.

The remarkable transformation is due to the hard work of the residents who, alarmed at the derelict look of the high street, called a public meeting to find ways to stem the decline and the seeds of West Kilbride Community Initiative Limited (WKCIL) were sown.

Formally established as a charity and company limited by guarantee in 1998, WKCIL’s aim was to lift the appearance of the village and use crafts as a catalyst for its revival. Its ambitions soon hit the rocks, however. For three years it struggled to find money to buy empty properties on the high street and every major funder had other priorities or simply weren’t convinced by the idea. “There was nothing happening, no support,” said Maggie Broadley, creative executive of Craft Town Scotland, one of the charity’s operational arms.

Despite all the setbacks, the group maintained its focus and unfaltering community support.

“This was community led right from the beginning; just a group of people committed to not giving up and not accepting that there was no hope for the town and their ambitions for it,” said Broadley. “We chose our unique selling point and stuck to it. At every road block the group managed to move forward and get back to the direction of travel.”

WKCIL established an environmental group and set about mobilising volunteers to make the place look better. It brightened up the streets with hanging baskets and raised money from environmental trusts to purchase a disused quarry. The quarry is now home to a greenhouse, polytunnels and community gardens. WKCIL has since bought two fields in an area known as The Glen, adding an orchard and wildflower meadow to its environmental portfolio.

A stride forward was made when the Moffat Charitable Trust bought two properties and offered them as craft studios for a peppercorn rent; rent it has never collected. In 2002, after a year of operating these studios, WKCIL approached Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire with a revised five-year plan and proof that it could succeed. This time, the agency offered a four-year package of funding worth £115,000. However, the money had to be matched from other sources. Weekly furniture sales supported by raffles, a jazz night and small grants from organisations including Airtricity and British Nuclear helped WKCIL raise £134,000. The resulting funds were used to buy three craft studios and to pay Craft Town Scotland’s first employee.

It took another seven years to secure £1 million in capital and revenue funding from Big Lottery Scotland and other funders to rebuild the empty Barony Church which had been purchased after a bequest from a local resident.

The Barony Centre now provides another major asset for the town with an exhibition space hosting some of the country’s top exhibitions, as well as a shop, café and spaces for workshops and craft residencies. Elsewhere in the village in place of the closed shops, there are nine studios including a silversmith, weaver, glass artist and shop with hand-dyed yarns.

There’s an award-winning bridal outfitter which attracts people from across the UK, an award-winning sweet maker, a boutique with its own design label, a deli, a book shop, a florist, butcher, baker, pub and artisan pizzeria. People live above or next to the shops so the area isn’t deserted at night.

“You would not believe the difference in the high street now,” said Broadley. “Businesses and community groups are working together, lots of young women are establishing businesses here and young families are coming back.”

All this significant change in the town is being fully supported by North Ayrshire Council.

Councillor Marie Burns, Cabinet Member for Economy & Employment, said: “The council’s number one priority is to regenerate towns and create a vibrant economy which is prosperous and successful for residents and businesses alike. I’m delighted to see West Kilbride benefitting from its craft town status. Through hard work of the local community group and partner agencies, the town has been rebranded as a craft and design centre and is now achieving fame as the official Craft Town Scotland. The creative hub boosts many successful craft shops and studios and its award winning status has transformed the town and put North Ayrshire on the map.”

The future is about expanding the evening economy, getting young people involved and working closely with schools. It is about consolidation and decreasing dependence on grants. It’s taken patience and focus and a team of dedicated volunteers, but West Kilbride proves the fortunes of a town can be turned around.