Cowan Park Gate Lodge project gets underway
Fantastic new facility for Barrhead park
Published 24 May 2021
We are set to bring the Cowan Park Gate Lodge in Barrhead back into community use.
Following a successful public consultation, we are proposing that local charity, Include Me 2 Club, create a social enterprise hub, café, bike workshop and public toilets which will be used by the local community and visitors to the park.
The project is part-funded by the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and renovation works, led by Procast, began on Monday 10 May, with contractors aiming to complete the handover to Include Me 2 Club in October. During this time, the Gate Lodge building will be fenced off to the public.
In 2019 East Renfrewshire residents and visitors had an opportunity to have their say on the facilities they'd like to see in the Park and the overwhelming majority felt the priorities should be toilets, food provision and CCTV. This project will provide both toilets and a cafe, creating a valuable community hub for Barrhead. The park is also set to have CCTV installed later this year.
East Renfrewshire Council Leader, Tony Buchanan said: 'East Renfrewshire Council is committed to upgrading the facilities within Cowan Park, so I am delighted to see that works to bring the Gate Lodge back to life are getting started. Cowan Park is a fantastic public space which already provides the local community and beyond with opportunities for sport, exercise and play - this project will not only provide additional, much-needed facilities, but it will also provide job and training opportunities through the work of Include Me 2 Club. I very much look forward to seeing the public enjoy this wonderful building.'
Paul McIlvenny, Include Me 2 Club SCIO chairperson, said: 'We are delighted to be working on this project with East Renfrewshire Council to bring about the changes to a fantastic community asset that will benefit so many people within the organisation, and have a wider community impact. We can't wait to bring this building back to life, with a coffee shop, bike hub, meeting spaces, public toilets and creating new jobs, alongside training and employability opportunities.'
