Our Community Project

The initial work of the ‘Our Community’ project is to prepare a Local Place Plan for the villages of Cove and Kilcreggan. The aim of our Local Place Plan is to ensure a sustainable development future in terms of the economy, infrastructure, housing, recreation, transport, public services and the response to climate change, whilst recognising the importance of the peninsula’s heritage for the benefit of the community.
Our thanks goes to gov.scot Strengthening Communities Program

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How We Got Here

The Our Community project story has grown from the hard work of previous community development projects in Cove & Kilcreggan. In 2022, concerns around planning, housing, transport and infrastructure remained after some years of under investment in the local area.

  • These concerns materialised into more formal discussions on planning and development in Cove & Kilcreggan villages. An application was crafted by various members of the Rosneath Peninsula West Community Development Trust, to apply for Scottish Government funding, supported by Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEIS) Strengthening Communities Fund. The funding application was successful and the Trust were awarded funds in May 2022 and the ‘Our Community’ project was born.

  • In the early days of the project it was coordinated by the Cove and Kilcreggan Community Council. It soon became clear it would be preferential to keep the remits of the Trust and the Community Council separate to maintain clarity around the different remits of each organization.

  • The Scottish Governments Strengthening Communities Fund encourages & mentors its awardees to work on village regeneration in consultation with members of its community. It also encourages its awardees to interact with other communities who have led community regeneration projects. The funds were awarded to Cove and Kilcreggan to create a new Local Place Plan for the villages, it being over 10 years since the Community Action Plan of 2011.

  • The Our Community Project is now in the final year of working on developing the Local Place Plan (LPP), which would be a community-led vision for development in Cove & Kilcreggan - one that the local councils would have to consider in their plans for future development of the area.

  • What

    The project was initiated in September 2022, having been awarded funding from the Scottish Government’s Strengthening through Community Enterprise in Scotland award (CEIS). The fund was set up to enable communities to decide their aspirations, priorities and solutions. It does not allow for any capital investment, but instead prepares for projects to be initiated.

    The ‘Our Community’ is a Rosneath Peninsula West Community Development Trust initiative.

  • Why

    The villages of Cove and Kilcreggan have a long history of community empowerment and a celebrated community spirit.

    Together (with you!) we’d like to continue to create positive change and build a stronger Cove and Kilcreggan for the future. There is a real need for investment and change in the villages where we live. Together (with you!) we would like to continue to create positive change and build a stronger Cove and Kilcreggan for the future.

  • When

    The initial funding of £162,000 covers 3 years, ending March 31st 2025. The ambition is for the project, and it’s impact, to continue long after.