A Quick Catch Up

28th July - meeting to explain the various types of group from un-incorporated to incorporated and the various pros and cons.
26th August - the group has been constituted as a un-incorporated entity for the short term with plans to move to an incorporated structure and will be known as the Dalrymple Community Land Project. The work begins :) Next meeting is Monday the 7th September 2015.

Monday 7th Sept 2015 - Da-Da the group is now constituted as an un-incoporated group with 13 members. Will be looking to form a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in the near future.

23rd June 2015 Meeting

This meeting was a chance for individuals to put questions to the Cassillis Estate manager about various issues regarding the land. The main focus was the various terms that would be attached to the lease. In particular the rent expected for the land would be £500 per annum instead of the 'peppercorn' rent first envisioned. This sum, however, was open to negotiation. In general the Estates approach was one of flexibility and an openess to discussion such as the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of other structures. It was felt by all present that the meeting was a very positive and constructive one with plenty of scope to move forward with any proposals agreed by the group once constituted. Next meeting is Tuesday 28th July to discuss various group constitutions.

Community Meeting : 26th May 2015

This meeting was attended by 20 or so residents. The decision was made for us all to forward by email our favorite schemes or ideas for the land to the community worker. From these a list of the favorite proposals will be compiled and hopefully put to the Cassillis estate manager for his input. The community worker will once again issue an invitation for him to attend the next meeting. 

The Daily Record published an article earlier this week about the land 'gifted' to Dalrymple from the Cassillis Estate.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/chunks-land-dalrymple-given-away-5694868

 My own understanding of the matter is that the land is to be leased to the village of Dalrymple for a 'peppercorn rent' and not actually 'given away' as such. The length and terms of the lease are still to be agreed. It seems to be a legal requirement to be brought in by the Scottish government for large landowners to make available some of their land to the local community ( I have to find out more about this for my own clarification). So while the land is not being leased out solely from the good intent of the landowner, it is still a great opportunity for Dalrymple residents to improve the community. 

https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/land-reform-and-tenancy-unit/land-reform-scotland/supporting_documents/00464887.pdf

Dalrymple Community Meeting: 6th May 2015 - Community Projects and Conspiracy Theories

About 30 - 40 villagers attended the meeting on the 6th May 2015. The community worker in attendance gave a summary of the meetings that had taken place to date and an overview of some of the ideas put forward in regard to utalising the land. There was some mixed feedback to this with a few people raising concerns about increased traffic into the area and others calling for 'no change' at all and voicing suspicion regarding the motives of both the council and the owners of Cassillis Estate. The community worker was at pains to point out nothing as yet had been decided but suggested that the next meeting should be used to form a committee and start the progress of 'firming' up' various ideas.

Date of next meeting is the 27th May 2015 and I'm pretty sure it's going to be an interesting one.

The railway viaduct leading into Dalrymple from the northside of the village. Previously known as Burnton Viaduct .
 Opened 1856 by the Ayr and Dalmellington Railway. A handsome 16-span masonry viaduct with semi-circular arches. J R Hume 1976.

http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/record/rcahms/41587/burnton-viaduct/rcahms

Swallows over the River Doon, Skeldon Estate, Dalrymple

On a cloudy afternoon, 2nd May 2015

A Short History and New Beginnings

The village of Dalrymple in East Ayrshire was established around 1800 but the parish itself is much older. The name is derived from Scottish Gaelic, translating roughly as 'the dale (or flat field) of the crooked water'. The village nestles in the crooks and bends of the beautiful River Doon and is situated about 8 km from Ayr. It is said that Robert Burns attended both the Dalrymple Parish Church and school in his youth while living nearby in Alloway.

Along with the parish church the village has its own primary school and nursery, shops and post office, community center, library, bowling green, playing field, basket ball court, two pubs and two hairdressing /beauty salons.

Clubs, groups and associations in Dalrymple include the local community council and community asscociation, play group, boys football, martial arts, and a well established fishing club. There is also local access to the woodland and riverside walks within the nearby Skeldon Estate.

Some views of Dalrymple today.

Dalrymple Parish Church and graveyard.

Kirkton Inn. Established in 1879

The White Horse Inn - a popular watering hole.

A recent development for the village is the offer from the Cassillis Estate to lease some parcels of land in return for a peppercorn rent in order that the community can develop the land in various ways. To that end there has been three public meetings already held and a number of ideas and suggestions put forward including some input from the local primary school. The Cassillis estate manager will have a say in what ideas can be developed. It was felt at the last meeting that due to poor numbers attending, that more effort needed to be done to publicise this exciting opportunity. Leaflets were then distributed to the approximately 1,400 households in Dalrymple and nearby Hollybush. 

Next meeting - Wed 6th May 2015 @ 7 pm, Community Centre.

A map of Dalrymple outlining the land under proposal.