It was with a heavy heart that the Craft Town Centre of West Kilbride said farewell to executive director Maggie Broadley who has spearheaded the spectacular restoration of the Barony in West Kilbride.
The decision was purely a financial one after recent funding cuts, and the Board of Directors are working hard behind the scenes to set up a new financial model to sustain the enterprising facility which is used by the community, and has attracted interest nationally and internationally. 
Kay Hall, secretary of the West Kilbride initiative, said: “Maggie did an awful lot of good work for the regeneration of the village, making links across Scotland and internationally boosting our profile in very testing times. Despite many challenges, we have had a lot of significant successes, making it into a national exhibition centre.
“The Barony project was very much Maggie’s baby, and she has worked with us for over ten years from the outset. raising the money all the way through to the point of opening the front door.
“We believe this is a valued creative hub for the village and we are determined to find a way to grow from what we have achieved so far.”
“National Funding is being focussed on areas of deprivation and we are in a competitive market. We were deeply disappointed by the withdrawal of financial investment as it had been expected. Of particular concern was having to make redundant the role of Maggie Broadley who was without doubt a driving force in all aspects of this business. Her vision, talent and determination have been recognised locally, nationally and internationally.”