2 Pins Centre is the name of the proposed new community facility in the centre of Pinwherry and the name reflects the connection between Pinwherry and Pinmore. This is based on the community council area delineated by South Ayrshire County Council.
For those who do not know where Pinwherry, Pinmore and the River Stinchar Valley are situated have a look at the map which shows the area and its advantages. The Stinchar Valley is at the hub of south west Scotland’s many assets in terms of tourism e.g. Burns country, the Galloway and South Ayrshire Biosphere reserve and Galloway Forest with its internationally recognised Dark Skies status. The Stinchar Valley is rich in terms of flora, fauna, landscape, and environment, rural and cultural heritage.
The area is easily accessible from the M6 / A75, Glasgow and Prestwick airports and Cairn Ryan ferry port.
Volunteers from Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Council formed a subgroup of Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Development Association (PPCDA) to take on projects aimed at enhancing community life and the local environment, such as the lay by information / notice boards and the planters and picnic furniture in the lay bys. Through community meetings and by commissioning consultants to conduct audits the PPCDA identified the communities’ needs and requests.
Consultations and discussions confirmed the current Pinwherry Village Hall is unfit for purpose. The building is in poor condition, access is via steep concrete steps with no way to put in disabled access, parking for a maximum of 12 vehicles depends on the size of vehicle and a driver’s ability to avoid the river. Refurbishing the current hall might suit some limited purposes but can never be economically sustainable or accessible to all members of the communities.
In considering how to deliver the communities’ needs and requirements it became clear that a multi-function facility is needed which can adapt to the needs of all ages and have the capacity for education, employment and leisure.
PPCDA has been joined by other volunteers from the Community Association to work on the 2 Pins Centre project. PPCDA has registered 2 Pins Community Company Ltd by Guarantee as a community company with a board of directors and 14 members representing both villages and we are currently seeking full charitable status.
Thanks to funding from Hadyard Hill Community Benefit Company and Carrick Futures Community Benefit Company negotiations have begun to purchase a piece of land in Pinwherry on which the 2 Pins Centre will be built.
Work has also begun to ascertain if the project can become reality in terms of economic sustainability, suitability of the site for all proposed uses and will the community support, use and develop the facilities?
The 2 Pins Centre will have a large hall, committee rooms, changing rooms, storage space, shop, cafe, heritage display space, craft display area, disabled toilets, car parking, 2-4 overnight caravan spaces and outdoor / indoor children’s play area. Some of our members are visiting other community halls/projects/shops to gain ideas of what we can do.
2 Pins Community Company needs more local people to become members of the company. Membership is an expression of support with no obligation to attend meetings etc but will be evidence of community support when the company applies for funding.
We also need more residents to come to monthly meetings and tell us what else we should incorporate into the facility before the architect finalises the plans.
We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm in Pinwherry Hall.
This community website will keep you up to date with all the news about the 2 Pins Centre developments, local information from all community groups, what’s on, tourist information, photograph gallery etc. To do this we need your help to give us the information. We are also looking for more photos and history of Pinmore and Pinwherry so please get in touch.
