Published: Thursday, 29th July, 2010 9:24am

Vacant pavilion is set for a fashionable future

by Bryan Copland

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CELEBRATED Dunbar designer Jacqui Burke has been given the backing of East Lothian Council leader Paul McLennan to go ahead with a project to reopen Winterfield Park pavilion as a fashion school.

Jacqui, 46, has been liaising with East Lothian Council for just over a year since launching her campaign to transform the common good building, which has lain empty for more than 30 years.

She wants to create a non-profit social enterprise to give locals of all ages the chance to learn their trade from the experienced designer, and the fashion hub could be open in time for summer classes next year.

An architect has produced plans for the old building - which would see the pavilion given a 1920s makeover - with enough space to host 12 students at any one time, where they could learn to design clothes for themselves and others.

She would also run classes during the day, in evenings and at weekends - with learners' work being displayed at the end of each season in a fashion parade in Dunbar - featuring floats and exhibitions.

There are even plans to exhibit the work further afield, in fashion hotspots such as London.

But the former contributor to London Fashion Week has seen her bid delayed because she has had to find £500,000 of funding from various sources, having initially planned to have the fashion hub up and running by September this year at a much lower cost.

Any money made from the venture would be ploughed back into running the school, while Jacqui wants the pavilion to provide a base for disadvantaged youngsters to come and learn.

She told the Courier she is well on her way to securing all of the required funding, and is in talks with potential private investors. Work to the pavilion could then get under way, and would take about six months.

"In this day and age, we want something to look forward to, because there are not a lot of things happening for the young people, especially in Dunbar," said Jacqui.

"Because it would be a community project, it would be great if everybody would come and help."

The mother-of-three - who regularly teaches at schools and colleges - has received huge support from residents and community councillors following two public meetings on her project.

Mr McLennan, a Dunbar councillor, has been closely involved in the discussions and says Jacqui's plans are "progressing well", though no planning application has yet been submitted.

He said: "The community is really behind Jacqui in this and people are very supportive of what we are trying to do with the space.

"The pavilion has lain empty for a long time and it's quite a historical building in Dunbar so we will do what we can to support Jacqui and see the project become successful."

The local authority had previously considered demolishing the derelict building.