A DISUSED landmark in Barrhead’s Cowan Park is to be turned into a community café.

Bosses at the Include Me 2 Club, which supports people who have disabilities or additional support needs, are taking on the project in Gatehouse Lodge, at the park’s entrance. 

In 2018, the Barrhead-based charity, held a consultation, exploring the idea of the building being revitalised and providing “much needed facilities and amenities” within the park.

Paul McIlvenny, of Include Me 2 Club, told the Barrhead News: “The focus for us at Cowan Park’s Gatehouse Lodge is to establish a range of services including café coffee shop, which will be part of our Social Blend Enterprise, supporting young people and adults with additional support needs, disabilities and mental health condition into training and employment.

“Public access toilets, a space for groups to meet, a community bike hub to establish a cycling centre, bike repair, enabling a whole new service in cycling without age style bikes and services to attract and encourage cycling activities. 

“Our hope is that the park will become a destination, bringing people to the park to stay and play longer, to have amenities available to them.

“Too many times, have my own family had to leave due to a lack of facilities. I think it’s been a big barrier in more people using the space over the years, and hopefully the proposed developments will start to change that and bring people back into the amazing green-spaces we have in Barrhead.”

Back in March, Barrhead’s James McGuire building reopened as a community hub, after lying empty for five years, thanks to the Include Me 2 Club, hosting social enterprises and employability projects, as well as becoming home to a coffee shop, gift shop and art studio.

The landmark dates back almost 120 years. 

“Once we have a road map of how this will be funded, it will provide a really, really positive space for the community to engage with,” added Paul.

“As well as the project providing a daily function of service for the cafe and bike projects, eventually it’ll connect to other ventures.

“We built our foundations with the James McGuire building and this is another step forward.”