THE former public toilets at Shillinghill are to be revived as a community hub, including loos, with an anticipated opening date of spring 2022.

Further funding of £25,000 was last week confirmed for the Alloa Hub project, where plans have been in the making to give the old toilet block a new lease of life as a focal point for active travel and much more.

A shared ambition of Clackmannanshire Council, which has funded refurbishment costs as part of a town centre regeneration project, as well as Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) and Alloa First – the hub is to become a flexible space providing a range of community services.

Toilet facilities available to the public, which have been lacking in the area for years, will be included with proposals to put in place a unique community shares funding model.

This will allow people to purchase shares in the enterprise, investing in what matters to them and becoming directly involved.

The three partners have formed Alloa Hub Limited, understood to be the first-ever community share ownership organisation in the Wee County, and more information about the community shares is to be revealed in the coming months in the build-up to the opening.

Diane Brown, project manager at Alloa First, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this funding which will contribute towards marketing material to promote the share options, provide CCTV and IT equipment and furnish the property ready for launch.

"Our aim for the Alloa Hub is to encourage our local community to 'think, choose and love local' and in turn increase footfall to the town centre ensuring spend circulates locally and benefits local businesses."

The funding award of £25,000 comes following a successful application to the Scottish Government's Scotland Loves Local Fund.

Toilet facilities will be revived, but the plans for the old block go much further.

It is understood the Alloa Hub will promote active travel and health information, will feature charging points for e-bikes, host cycle repairs and a Made in Clackmannanshire shop all while promoting the area with visitor information.

The hub, where work is already under way, will also host exhibition spaces for five Clackmannanshire Tapestry panels, which are to be revealed as part of an ongoing project undertaken by volunteers from across the area, supported by CTSI and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Anthea Coulter, chief officer at CTSI and also a board director at Alloa First, added: "We are delighted to see the Alloa Hub taking shape now, and sharing every step now with the local communities, with the help of this funding, until the launch of the community share option in spring 2022.

"The hub aims to be an economic driver for the area, but also will help people access information on keeping healthy and active.

"We will be starting to recruit for a volunteer team to be based at the venue soon too."