Clackmannanshire Council Online

Renovated Speirs Centre Opens with Family Fun

The local community came together in their hundreds on Saturday (18 October) to celebrate the opening of the impressive Speirs Centre with a series of family events that opened the doors of the building for everyone to enjoy.

Council Leader Gary Womersley officially opened the building and invited everyone to enjoy the fun activities on offer. As well as discovery walks around the new building, there was face painting, balloon modelling, a competition to win a tablet device, goody bags, demonstrations on researching family history and cake and coffee.

Hillfoots Harmony, the local female barber shop style choir, wowed the crowd with a 'flash mob' performance.

The state-of-the-art community hub is now open following its multi million pound refurbishment and features:

• a new modern library facility
• local and family history facilities with access to all of Scotland's birth, death, marriage, old parish records, open censuses and much more
• customer service facilities for all enquiries, payments and bookings
• registration of births, deaths and marriages
• public wi-fi and computers for public use
• exhibits showing the history and heritage of Clackmannanshire
• seating, relaxation areas and drinks facilities

Councillor Womersley said: "The family fun day was a great success, throwing open the doors of this wonderfully refurbished building to the people of Clackmannanshire.

"I am delighted that as part of the Making Clackmannanshire Better project we have been able to make the investment in this important but previously underused historic building, which can now be enjoyed by the community and visitors for a wide range of services.

"I'm sure that those who enjoyed the day on Saturday will be returning to the Speirs very soon to use the wide range of services on offer, and I'd urge anyone who hasn't visited yet to pop in and see the building for themselves."

The £3.129 million redevelopment of the historic Speirs Centre, has safeguarded the future of this category 'A' listed building.

Scottish Futures Trust injected £190,000 into the refurbishment and Historic Scotland £195,000 towards the overall cost of the contract.

A new modern extension now forms the main entrance area and the building is fully accessible with ramped access and lifts.