North Ayrshire Council’s Capital Budget will deliver investment worth more than £324 million in the coming years to help support communities and residents. The Capital Budget supports investment in buildings, infrastructure and regeneration projects and the newly-approved programme will see a focus on a number of major developments across North Ayrshire. The rolling programme - approved by Elected Members yesterday (Wednesday 25 February) - will see investment in North Ayrshi

North Ayrshire Council has approved its Budget for 2026/27 after a meeting of Elected Members. This was recognised as a particularly challenging budget to set as the Council had to deal with a major funding gap, particularly related to health and social care services. Following a series of votes, elected members agreed to raise Council Tax by 8.5 per cent from April. This is comparable with other Council Tax increases already approved in Scotland and reflects the determinatio

North Ayrshire Council has moved quickly to protect public safety and begin the recovery process following the major fire at Irvine’s Forum Centre. With Police Scotland investigating the origin of the blaze, the Council is using its available powers to start demolition works at the severely damaged building so that nearby streets and pathways can be reopened as soon as possible. Demolition contractors are already on site and work is expected to continue over the coming weeks

Opening hours are set to be expanded at an Irvine early years centre to ensure local families continue to have access to high‑quality, flexible early learning that suits their needs. A review of early years capacity across the area has shown that while most communities have a good match between places and demand, some early years establishments are experiencing growing pressure for childcare spaces. To help meet this rising demand, the Council is proposing a change to the way

A brand new course – funded by the Ayrshire Growth Deal - was launched on Monday to provide a unique opportunity for six unemployed people to be trained to the international welding standard. The IGNITE Welding Course, a transformative training initiative delivered in partnership with industry leaders J&D Pierce (Contracts) Ltd, has been funded through the Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund as part of the wider Ayrshire Growth Deal. This intensive program aims to tackle a skills

Work on restoring one of North Ayrshire’s most beautiful and iconic landmarks started this month. Glasgow-based CBC Stone are carrying out the £435,000 fabric improvements on Kilwinning Abbey, with work – which is weather-dependent – expected to take a number of months. The works will preserve its heritage - and enhance the experience for locals and tourists who visit and are essential to ensure its long-term conservation. These include building fabric repairs and improvement

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland was the venue for the National Concert Band Festival’s Scottish regional festival. Bands were welcomed from all over Scotland and Northern England to perform for the adjudicators Bryan Allen and Heather Nicol. Alongside North Ayrshire Schools’ Senior Concert Band, other bands included: Garnock Valley Community Band, Clyde Wind Ensemble, Stewarton Winds, Durham University Concert Band and Strathclyde University Concert Band. The Garnock Vall

A youth-led group of filmmakers in North Ayrshire are getting ready to direct their next short film. It follows the success of their recent production Piece of Mind filmed in locations across Scotland, including at the walled garden of Eglinton Country Park. Piece of Mind was designed and delivered by young filmmakers of Next Take, these included Max McGregor, Archie Nelson, and BAFTA award-winner Daniel Kerr, supported by Screen Scotland’s Screen Education Fund, North Ayrshi

North Ayrshire Council has published an interim progress report on action that has been planned to help reduce flood risk. The Interim Progress Report on the 2nd Ayrshire Local Flood Risk Management Plan focuses on options to minimise the impact of flooding across Ayrshire, Arran and Great Cumbrae between 2022 and 2028. Under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, 12 Local Plan Districts across the country are responsible for assessing and managing flood risk. Ayrshir

North Ayrshire’s flagship Additional Support Needs school, Lockhart Campus, has recently celebrated the milestone of its four-year partnership with Developing the Young Workforce Ayrshire (DYW). The Business Breakfast celebration, held on Friday 28 November at Lockhart Campus, opened with a speech from Depute Head Teacher John Herd celebrating the school’s flourishing four-year partnership with DYW Ayrshire. The breakfast shone a spotlight on the incredible work of dedicated

Irvine Royal Academy has become the latest secondary school in Scotland, and first in North Ayrshire, to have achieved the prestigious LGBT Youth Scotland Charter of Education Gold Award. A national award, the LGBT Youth Scotland accreditation - awarded by Glasgow based charity, LGBT Youth Scotland - recognises schools that go above and beyond the basic requirements to support LGBT pupils, staff, parents and carers. Being accredited enables schools to share a positive message

Hundreds of roads across North Ayrshire will begin switching to a 20mph speed limit later this month as part of a national effort to improve road safety. Councillor Tony Gurney The change follows the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for 20mph in Urban Areas, noted by Cabinet in June, which supports reducing speeds on suitable village, town and city roads from 30mph to 20mph. Transport Scotland is leading the nationwide rollout. Evidence behind the move highlights that

A Montgomerie Park Primary pupil has appeared in a new national video raising awareness of anxiety in young people and how it can affect school attendance. Lochlan Brown at Montgomerie Park The film, produced by Parent Club, the Scottish Government’s official resource for parents and carers, was released last week and features Primary 7 pupil Lochlan Bowie. Lochlan first discovered his confidence for drama during lockdown, creating videos with the help of his parents Marianne

Miller Homes is helping make the streets of Beith safer for children this autumn as it celebrates six years of its Home Safeinitiative in the West of Scotland. In recognition of International Walk to School Month (October), the homebuilder has donated a high-visibility vest to all 308 pupils at Beith Primary School to help keep them visible on their journeys.   Since launching Home Safe in 2019, Miller Homes has worked with local schools across the West of Scotland, donating

North Ayrshire Council staff are continuing their efforts to get life back to business as usual for residents following Storm Amy. Over the weekend of 4 October, flood warnings were issued by the Met Office for areas including Saltcoats, Ardrossan, Skelmorlie and Largs. High winds brought trees down across roads, including the B706 at Barrmill and a Health and Social Care Partnership worker was left trapped when the vehicle they were in was hit by a tree between Corsehill Mou

People using larders across North Ayrshire have shared their stories of communities coming together to support each other - as the...

North Ayrshire Council has provided an update on their Ardrossan Community Campus development. A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said...

A pioneering solar PV farm – the first to be owned and operated by a Scottish local authority – has been officially switched on. The...

North Ayrshire Council has welcomed free in the moment mental health support via text message as the local authority partners with Shout....

Twins are among the intake of new P1 pupils as teachers across North Ayrshire welcome all children for the new term. Staff will be seeing...