Kilmarnock and Loudoun (district) facts for kids
| Kilmarnock and Loudoun | |
 Kilmarnock and Loudoun district within Scotland |
|
| Geography | |
| Status | District |
| HQ | Kilmarnock |
| History | |
| Created | 16 May 1975 |
| Abolished | 31 March 1996 |
| Succeeded by | East Ayrshire |
Quick facts for kids Politics |
|
|---|---|
| Governance | Kilmarnock and Loudoun District Council |
Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Scottish Gaelic: Cill Mhearnaig agus Lughdan) was a special area in Scotland. It was one of 19 "districts" that helped manage local services. These districts were part of a larger area called the Strathclyde "region." Kilmarnock and Loudoun existed from 1975 until 1996. Today, this area is part of East Ayrshire.
Contents
History of Kilmarnock and Loudoun
How the District Started
The Kilmarnock and Loudoun district was created in 1975. This happened because of a law called the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. This law changed how local areas in Scotland were managed. It set up a two-part system:
- Bigger areas called "regions"
- Smaller areas within them called "districts"
Kilmarnock and Loudoun was one of these new districts within the Strathclyde region. It took over the jobs of several older local areas that were closed down. These older areas were all from the historic county of Ayrshire. They included:
- Darvel Burgh
- Galston Burgh
- Kilmarnock Burgh
- Most of the old Kilmarnock District
- Newmilns and Greenholm Burgh
- Stewarton Burgh
When the District Ended
Kilmarnock and Loudoun district stopped existing in 1996. Another law, the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, changed things again. This time, the regions and districts were replaced. New, single-level areas called "unitary council areas" were created.
The area of Kilmarnock and Loudoun joined with another district, Cumnock and Doon Valley. Together, they formed the new East Ayrshire council area.
Kilmarnock and Loudoun Today
Even though the district no longer exists, the name "Kilmarnock and Loudoun" is still used. It is the name for an area that elects people to the House of Commons in the UK Parliament. It is also the name for an area that elects people to the Scottish Parliament. These areas cover a similar part of Scotland.
Local Government Buildings
The Kilmarnock and Loudoun council had its main offices in Kilmarnock. This was the biggest town in the district. The old Kilmarnock Town Hall was taken down around the time the new district council started.
Instead, the council used two buildings that were already there. They were on opposite sides of John Dickie Street and were called the "Civic Centre."
- On the south side, the council meetings were held in a building from 1905. It used to be offices for a company called William Wallace and Company.
- On the north side, the council used a building from 1880. This building used to be the main office for the Kilmarnock Co-operative Society.
Today, the Civic Centre is still used by East Ayrshire Council. They use it for some of their offices. However, East Ayrshire Council's main office is now in a converted school on London Road in Kilmarnock.
See also
- Subdivisions of Scotland
- Kilmarnock
- Loudoun
