AN important stage in the process to see a Development Trust set up in Cowdenbeath will come in mid August.

Just days after the consultants from Parsons-Brinckerhoff made a successful visit to the town to look at ways the image of the 125 year-old burgh can be improved, the first visit for the steering group who are working on the DT process, has been arranged for 19th August.

The visit is being arranged by Ian Cook, from Development Trust Scotland, to West Kilbride, one of the communities who have set up a Trust and are benefiting from its input. The visit will take place on Wednesday 19th August, leaving Cowdenbeath at approximately 9.30am and leaving West Kilbride at approximately 4pm. The Cowdenbeath group will meet with Maggie Broadley, from West Kilbride Community Initiative, who will be delighted to discuss their journey in a bit more detail and point out how the Cowdenbeath Development Trust could be achieved.

During his visit in May to Cowdenbeath, Ian Cook outlined a whole range of communities that had made the move to create a Development Trust. But he stressed that it was important that people from the town got involved to make the initiative happen. Since then several people have volunteered to get involved in the project and they will go to West Kilbrife to find out how the North Ayrshire community has been benefiting from Trust status.

Said Cowdenbeath Area Services Manager, Kevin Sayer, “This is a good opportunity for our volunteers to get an insight on how the Trust was set up in West Kilbride and what the results of it have been. Ian Cook is keen for the Cowdenbeath volunteers to get information from people who have experienced the journey.

“This is especially true given the other initiatives that we’re starting on. I also think the report from the consultants will help give the town confidence - we will have sound, costed plans and the capacity to deliver them.”