Campaigners who are against plans to use the CEVIC Centre in Catrine for a nursery have this week demanded a crunch meeting with the local authority.
The Post previously revealed how East Ayrshire Council has applied for planning permission to use the base as part of their early years childcare expansion plans.
If that goes ahead, it would leave serious question marks over the future of the village nursery on Newton Street.
The CEVIC building was formerly occupied by the Catrine Community Trust and was used for a variety of education and community-related purposes.
However, plans have been drawn up to transform the CEVIC into a nursery, catering for 64 children.
Villagers fear that the existing nursery could be sold off to developers and they lose a community asset too.
A decision could be made on the CEVIC building’s future next month.
Now the Save the CEVIC Campaign Group have outlined several demands they want met ahead of a meeting with council beaks.
Among their demands are an “immediate stop” to the Planning Application, for it to be “completely withdrawn,” at least three group volunteers to meet with EAC officials, an invite to all Ballochmyle Ward Councillors to attend, or their representatives, and an independent person appointed to “investigate the concerns” campaigners have and for a report to be “made public.”
David Mitchell, chief governance officer for East Ayrshire Council, previously stated that the CEVIC building had “not fulfilled its potential,” and “required substantial grant support” to operate.
Last week the group staged another protest outside the CEVIC. More than 1000 people have signed their petition against the proposals, while the group’s Facebook page has nearly 300 members.
A spokesperson for the group said: “We’ve got 1036 signatures, 289 members and the continued support and encouragement of Catrine behind us.”
A council spokesperson said: “We have worked with organisations in Catrine over a number of years including supporting them to develop their Community Action Plan and to enable them to manage and take ownership of community assets through our Community Asset Transfer arrangements.
"We are therefore keen to meet with the Group and with other appropriate community representatives from Catrine to achieve mutual understanding of the issues.
"Clearly the current public health emergency adds some complication to how meetings can be conducted but we would hope that these can be addressed and that arrangements can be agreed over the next week or so.”
