Councillor McCabes' Welcome from the Hilltop Courier

Welcome to the second issue of the Hilltop Courier - the newsletter of the Gibshill Task Group. The purpose of the Courier is to keep you informed about the work of the Task Group and to encourage you to become involved in building the new Gibshill.

The Gibshill Task Group is a partnership of public agencies and the local community that have the specific remit of completing the regeneration of Gibshill.

Since our first newsletter in December 2003 there have been a number of developments that have impacted on our strategy for Gibshill.

On the negative side the Community Centre was closed by the Council as part of its budget cuts. While the Task Group's view is that the Community Centre should be replaced by a new facility we would have preferred it to remain open until a new facility was available.

On the positive side we now have a firm commitment from Communities Scotland to fund 70 new houses for sale by a private developer and 20 for rent through Cloch Housing Association. The contract is likely to be put out to tender within the next few weeks with the aim of a start on site before the end of this calendar year.

We have also seen the recent demolition of the last remaining Council tenements in Gibshill. This truly marks the end of an era.

The Task Group has been successful in attracting money from a number of agencies to fund a community survey and a feasibility study into a new community facility. The results of the survey and study will be used to shape future services in Gibshill and hopefully to attract funding for a community facility.

Personally I am delighted that the Gibshill Residents' Association has continued to be very active over the last nine months or so. The participation of residents is key to any successful regeneration strategy. Some of the funding we have secured will enable the Residents' Association to build the capacity of local people to participate in building the new Gibshill.

I hope that you find this issue of the Courier informative. If you have any comments or would like to help produce future issues why not give Rudy Irion a call on 783637. 

Councillor Stephen McCabe
Chairperson
Gibshill Task Group