CARDENDEN'S future started to take shape at the weekend, when around sixty local people took part in the second of two workshop sessions to nail down proposals for inclusion in a new Action Plan for the area.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Electoral Reform Society have joined forces to run the Reclaiming Our Coalfield Communities initiative, covering Cardenden, Auchterderran, Bowhill and Dundonald.

The workshop in Auchterderran/Kinglassie Church came up with a range of proposals to address key issues, including providing a ‘place of their own’ for local young people, improving the appearance of the area, and addressing the issue of abandoned and derelict buildings.

The proposals from the session will now be brought together with projects being pursued by local organisations, and the findings presented for inclusion in the Action Plan at a Voting Day.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has put up a £20,000 participatory budget to help launch key projects, and Fife Council’s Cowdenbeath Area Committee has contributed a further £10,000 to the budget.

Phil Connor, Campaigns Co-ordinator of the Electoral Reform Society who led one of half a dozen discussion groups at the workshop said: “This initiative has the twin goals of boosting local democracy, and laying the foundations of a new Action Plan.

“The very strong turnout and the enthusiasm and positive energy of those taking part were evidence that we achieve both these goals.

“The group I was working with came up with a proposal to provide a shelter for local young people where they can get together whatever the weather.

“But that was just the short term step in making better provision for young people. In the medium term we would like to see that develop in a youth club and in the longer term, give young people the help and support to run it themselves”.

Other proposals included measures to improve the appearance of the village, tackling the problem of derelict buildings, and proposals for CCTV cameras to improve personal safety.

Bob Young Scottish Trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust said: “It is very encouraging to see our joint initiative with the Electoral Reform Society generating such an enthusiastic response from the people of Cardenden.

“We are really looking forward to seeing the proposals that emerge from these sessions, when they are presented to local people at the Voting Day on March 14”.

The Reclaiming Our Coalfields Communities programme which is running in Bo’ness, and Dalmellington, as well as Cardenden has the support of a £40,000 award from the Scottish Government’s Aspiring Communities Fund and the European Social Fund.