TULLIBODY residents are hoping to take the civic centre into community ownership to help make the town "a place where people want to live, work and visit".

Last year, Clackmannanshire Council launched an informal consultation looking at the possibility of developing a new school campus on the park.

However, there was significant backlash following the proposals and the Save Tullibody Public Park campaign was launched in a bid to protect the green space.

Now – as a formal consultation is underway which considers building on the civic centre – the group is working to preserve the local facility.

It is also urging the council to maintain the park under Fields in Trust, or alternatively allow the community to look after it.

Spokesperson for the group, Lesley Shaw, said: "Our aim remains the same as was before, to protect Tullibody public park from development. 

"We want to protect and secure our green open space for now and for future generations, but now we need and want to extend that aim to protect and secure our civic centre and heritage centre; both of which are currently facing genuine risk of demolition with the land being sold for possible housing and/or other development under the south campus consultation proposal. 

"We strongly feel we can only achieve this aim by taking these named facilities into community ownership to remove the operational cost from the council’s reduced budget – as other communities have successfully done so – and to meet the social, cultural, educational and health aspirations of our growing local community, whilst protecting and enhancing our natural environment."

The group has been generating discussion through dedicated Facebook and Twitter pages since its inception and organised two public meetings on the issue.

Following one held in June, attended by more than 200 residents, local politicians pledged to safeguard the park after hearing an outpouring of support.

In February of this year, the formal public consultation was launched to gather feedback on plans for the school campus, comprising a newly-rebuilt Abercromby Primary School, St Bernadette's Primary School, a new nursery and locality hub.

Two proposals have been 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 has led Save Tullibody Public Park to show support for the first suggestion, but it also wants to take on the civic centre.

Meanwhile, the council hasn't commented on whether or not this will be considered, however, views are still being taken as part of the consultation.

Ms Shaw said: "Tullibody has grown substantially in terms of housing development and population over the past two decades but there are no community facilities to match this. 

"What we have is minimal compared to other towns of our size and smaller. The facilities have not been a priority - especially since the economic downturn.  

"With a current population in Tullibody alone of over 9,500 and with more housing currently being built, the impact of losing all or any more of our current community facilities in the very near future would have a dramatic impact on the local residents here in Tullibody, Cambus and Glenochil. 

"This consultation proposal has brought this focus to the forefront. We have a very strong sense of community in Tullibody, Cambus and Glenochil and could sustain two community facilities, especially with the council proposing in the consultation document that the new south campus will have restricted access to the members of the public during school operational hours. 

"With the correct management board, strategic plan and funding in place, support from locals and working in partnership with the council, there is no reason why our proposal could not work in our community."

A Clackmannanshire Council spokesperson said: "The formal consultation remains open for the local community to give their views until 22 April.

"Following this a report will be made to the council, where the views received will be represented."