When West Kilbride’s Craft Town project came in for criticism recently, the group decided against fighting fire with fire, writes Kevin Dyson.

Instead, they wanted to show the positive side, up close and invited me to meet the crafters.

Craft Town Director Maggie Broadley told the News that the project continued to make good progress. I met Maggie and her fellow director Kay Hall at the Barony Centre, the base for the Craft Town project. While the development of the old church had some well documented issues, it is a striking building which opens out into a remarkably bright hall, featuring exhibitions of various works. Maggie and Kay were keen to point out that the Craft Town had been compared to ‘normal’ commericial businesses, one which was unfair given the context. Maggie said: “There have never been plans to operate the studios as ordinary shops, opening 9-5 every day.

“The premises are workshops - the place where the work is designed and made.

“If we had 20 people coming in for 30 minutess at a time, they would not be able to produce their work at all.” One crafter, Debbie Halliday, told us that, although she was ‘officially’ open three days a week, she was happy to open at other times if someone expresses an interest.

Debbie, who designs and creates decorative glasswork, added that many people were interested in seeing her work, as well as purchasing her wares.

There is no doubting that the crafters are among the best in their chosen field and have began to work with each other to create even more unique work.

Marion Kane, the renowned silversmith, invested us to look at some of her work, not to mention some of the pieces in progress.

One of her best known pieces is a coffee pot commissioned as part of the Silver for the Stars project.

When you see the work up close, you understand the time and skill put into it - with thousands upon thousands of tiny hammer indents used to shape her work.

We are talking months rather than days to finish one piece. Conveyor belt production this is not.

As Kay and Maggie took me around the town, they explained that the various community groups were working increasingly with one another.

Kay said: “There are regular discussions between the groups. This is helping everyone as there are many things that we do which can help them and support they can give us.” Maggie added: “We have certainly received good feedback from businesses. Indeed, some have said that without the initiative, they would probably not be here.

“In fact, we know that crafts are popular as the big companies who wish to promote their own goods are starting to do so under a ‘craft’ guise.” Kay said: “Around 15 years ago the town centre was in a terrible state, with closed shops.

“Now there are very few closed premises and those which have closed have done so for specific reasons.

“Even then, they have not sat empty for any lengthy period of time.” The Craft Town project has been promoted around Scotland as an example of good practice, something that Maggie and Kay are proud of.

And rather than stay static, they have found that the movement continues to progress.

One example is the willingness of the various makers to bring together their skills to create something entirely new..

Maggie said: “This type of collaboration and support is an example of what makes the craft town project so special. “It has also happened quite organically - one of the benefits of having so many talented and creative people in one place.”