LOCAL residents are forging ahead with the Save Tullibody Public Park (STPP) campaign.

Since the steering group was formed, 26 people have come together to make up the Tullibody Action Group.

Sub working committees – business planning, consultation and feasibility and grant funding – have also been set-up to help STPP in its aims.

Meanwhile, volunteers have been researching, and seeking advice, on how it could potentially take Tullibody Civic Centre into community ownership.

As previously reported in the Advertiser, Clackmannanshire Council launched an informal consultation last year which looked at the possibility of developing a new school campus on the park.

However, there was significant backlash following the suggestion and a public campaign was launched in a bid to protect the green space.

Two proposals were later formally put before the community: The relocation of both Abercromby and St Bernadette's RC Primary School to a new Tullibody South Campus located within the grounds of the present Abercromby (option A) and the relocation of Abercromby and St Bernadette's to a new campus, located within the grounds of the present civic centre (option B).

It closed at the end of April and STPP showed support for option A, however, it wants to see the civic centre safeguarded and the park maintained under Fields in Trust, or alternatively allow the community to look after it.

Monthly meetings have been taking place since the steering group first convened in May and campaigners have spoken with a a community ownership advisor from Development Trusts Association Scotland, to find out about the process of taking on the building via the Community Empowerment Act.

Feedback from those interested in the move has been positive and a STPP public meeting held in March got even more people on board.

Lesley Shaw of STPP said: "By the end of the evening we had received over 50 volunteer applications – 12 of which wanted to be involved with the steering committee – which we were delighted with as getting more people on board to steer the group was crucial to the development of STPP vision and the skills, knowledge and commitment that presented themselves on the applications was very encouraging indeed."

New volunteer Philip Grivell has now been elected treasurer of the steering group and wants to do what he can to help the community.

He said: "I think it is really important to look after what little community facilities we have here in Tullibody. 

"My children use the civic centre and are members of the Tullibody Community Football Club – who play their matches on the public park and use the changing facilities, so the club would also be affected if the civic centre was lost. 

"I think it very admiral what the STPP group have achieved so far and after the public meeting in March I decided that I wanted to give back to community that I live in, by bringing my skills and knowledge to the table to hopefully help keep the park and save the civic centre and run it as a community enterprise."

Clackmannanshire Council has previously said development proposals for the campus are to enhance school and community facilities.
Consultation on the detailed design is to include current and potential users, to ensure optimal community usage.

The council has not yet taken a decision on the Tullibody South Campus, or the future of Tullibody Civic Centre.

The analysis of the public consultation is being compiled and will go before elected members later this year.

Spokesperson for education, councillor George Matchett, said: "We are fully anticipating that there will be a paper on this matter going to the council in August for decision."

Tullibody Action Group’s next meeting is on Tuesday, August 9, at 7pm.