Published on:
12
September 2011
10 September 2011
Clackmannanshire Council has won a prestigious award in the 2011 Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) National Service Awards, for the Imagine Alloa project.
Imagine Alloa, the town centre regeneration project funded by the Scottish Government and Clackmannanshire Alliance, won the Best Community & Neighbourhood Initiative category.
Imagine Alloa saw over £2m invested in streetscape improvements and public art. The physical improvements, combined with the involvement of the community in the local arts projects, saw the numbers of people rating Alloa as a good place to visit rise by 7%. Respondents' satisfaction with ease of getting around was up 12% to 90% and satisfaction with ease of access to the town centre had increased from 76% to 86%.
The Council was also the runner up in the Best Regeneration Initiative category, with the Kilncraigs Office Redevelopment Project. This could see the refurbishment of the former Paton's Mill and school, bringing these category A listed buildings back into use as Council headquarters. The project plans to use £2.7m Business Premises Renovation Allowance which would reduce the construction costs by a third. Reducing from three main buildings to one could save the Council a further £6m over the next 30 years. The detailed implications of such a scheme are to be considered further by the Council in the autumn.
Councillor Eddie Carrick, portfolio holder for sustainability, commented "This really is fantastic news. APSE is a rigorous competition, comparing public sector organisations from across the UK. Clackmannanshire was the only Scottish organisation shortlisted in the Community & Neighbourhood category, so I'm particularly delighted that we've come out on top.
"Imagine Alloa continues to go from strength to strength, with new art-based businesses opening and ongoing plans for the development of the Speirs Centre."