What’s the vibe?

IDEAS and views are wanted for what should happen next at Vibe 75 in Newton Stewart.

It’s currently leased and occupied by the Newton Stewart Initiative (NSI), which is working to regenerate the town.

And they are calling on the community for suggestions for the future.

Over the last two years, NSI has been building up the ground floor of Vibe 75 as a community hub. It now hosts regular carless boot sales and pop-up markets, as well as a range of community activities from reminiscence groups to a youth darts club.

The vision for Vibe 75 is for the ground floor to grow as a thriving community hub, and to use the upper floor as a dedicated space for youth work.

Youth work co-ordinator Matthew Robinson said: “Another dedicated youth space would give an additional safe place for young people in the area and offer them increased opportunities to gain new experiences and the opportunity to develop and gain new skills.

“This additional space would also provide young people with more positive experiences helping to increase their social and community engagement.”

As Vibe 75 was leased to NSI on the basis they would seek funding to purchase the building and take it into community ownership, they want to know if residents agree, and get their feedback on the proposals for how it could be used.

Initiative chair David Inglis said: “It’s important to the work of Newton Stewart Initiative that we listen to our community, capture their ideas and try to implement them across our projects.

“Buildings like ‘The Vibe’ are an integral part of our town centre offering. By taking it into community ownership we can develop it into a town centre community hub for use by all groups.

“I hope everyone will recognise the importance of this project to the town and would urge them to take part in the consultation process to help us deliver it.”

A community survey has been launched, with paper copies at Vibe 75 itself, and at the community shop on Dashwood Square, as well as online at https://bit.ly/nsvibe75.

There will also be a quiz night on November 6, with the chance to give your views.