Supporting rural life in Scotland
Lumsden Community Association was awarded £5000 towards the costs of refurbishing and bringing public toilets back into use in Lumsden Village.
Background
In 2020, the Lumsden Community Association (LCA) completed the Community Asset Transfer of the public toilet building in The Square, Lumsden, from Aberdeenshire Council. The toilets had been closed for many years following significant fire damage and were deemed surplus to requirements, and the Council was seeking disposal of the property.
Following the legal transfer of the ownership of the toilets, the LCA embarked on a phased programme to renovate, modernise, and bring them back into public use, including measures to improve accessibility for disabled users.
Phase 1 – Essential Accessibility Building Work
The project's first phase was to complete the essential building work to improve universal accessibility. This work involved the removal of solid concrete partition walls and old sanitaryware inside the building, making good the internal space (in preparation for phase 2), the construction of a new wheelchair and buggy access ramp and the installation of a new extra-wide low threshold door and window.
Phase 2 – Refurbishment and Modernisation was part funded by Kildrummy Wind farm Community Fund undertaken April – October 2022
Phase 2 started with a professional 'carbon clean' of the building to remove most of the historic fire damage and concluded with the external decoration. LCA used local contractors for all aspects of the project, and despite the cost of materials increasing considerably, most costs came in as forecast. The work was completed in October 2022, and the building was re-opened to the public on Sunday, 23rd October 2022. To start with, LCA plan for the facility to be open seven days a week during daylight hours.
Early Impact
At a time of reducing services and the increasing impact of rural isolation, it is important for the community to have a new facility of which they can be proud. In addition to the practical benefits, the external appearance of the building has created a significant aesthetic enhancement to the centre of the village. Early feedback from the community has been hugely positive. The major positive impacts of the project will start to be evident in the spring and summer of 2023 as more people are out and about.
Adding value – levering in additional funds
The LCA project is an excellent example of how the Kildrummy Wind farm Community Fund can have an impact beyond the maximum grant award of £5000., contributing to significant community projects and helping to lever other available funding.