CAMPAIGNERS continue to drive home the desire to protect Tullibody's park and civic centre.

The formal consultation period on two proposals for the new Tullibody South Campus closed on Friday, April 22.

Meanwhile, the Save Tullibody Public Park and Community Facilities group is marching on with plans to defend the community assets.

Spokesperson Lesley Shaw said: "It is important to build upon the momentum that the group have achieved to date – especially now that the formal consultation has closed. 

"We have been very vocal about our aim and have gained a huge amount of support from locals who want us to move forward and secure the public park and civic centre’s future. 

"Now, it is about putting a strategic plan in place and in order to do this over the next couple of months we need as many dedicated volunteers as possible to help us in our bid."

The organisation kick-started last year in response to informal proposals suggesting a new school could be built on the park, before two options were formally put before the town – one which included building on the civic centre.

The group wants to see the park protected under Fields and Trust and is also pushing for the centre to be handed over to the community.

Clackmannanshire Council confirmed the public consultation on two options for the location of a new school and community campus was complete.

It had agreed at a special council meeting earlier this year to hold a formal consultation on the development of the new campus: including Abercromby Primary School, St Bernadette's R.C. Primary School, a nursery and a locality hub.

It ran for six weeks and sought opinions on two options: a new campus located within the grounds of the present Abercromby Primary School (option A) and a new Tullibody South Campus located within the grounds of the present Tullibody Civic Centre (option B).

A spokesperson said: "Neither option involves building on Tullibody Public Park while both options offer the chance to create modern, integrated leisure facilities and spaces for community use.

"The Scottish Government has confirmed that this project will benefit from funding under the Schools for the Future Programme.

"The consultation programme included a number of face-to-face engagement events with stakeholders and two well attended public meetings. 

"Over 300 members of the public have given their views on the two options via an online survey, while views were also collected via paper surveys. 

"A consultation report is now being drafted with a view to a decision being taken by full council later in the year."

Following the success of the campaign's original petition – Save Tullibody's Public Park, which attracted over 1300 signatures – a new one has been launched.

Named Save Tullibody’s Community Facilities, it can be found on Change.org and covers the civic centre and heritage centre, as well as the original petition to save the Public Park. 

There are also plans to set up meetings for support on how to become a registered group and seek funding, in order to source an independent feasibility study and development plan.

A new website has also been launched, Tullibody.org, and campaigners will meet with those interested in volunteering at the civic centre on Tuesday, May 3.

It would also like to sit down with key stakeholders in the future, to discuss the issue further.

Lesley said: "It is our hope that the 18 deciding councillors will join their respective MSPs in support of our campaign and will be in overall agreement that option A (from the formal council consultation) is the preferred option and to not only allow but support the community into taking over ownership of the civic centre and protecting Tullibody’s public park."