New lease of life for Corsock's 'Auld Village Garage'

A local businessman plans to put the abandoned Corsock garage back on the map.

Corsock garage has lain empty and abandoned for nearly 30 years, but now Corsock based businessman John Carolan has plans to turn it into a destination craft centre. John said:

“My wife and I moved to Corsock only last summer with plans to take life a bit easier now we are of a certain age! However, out walking the dog one morning I saw the 'For Sale' sign and just knew I could create a business out of the old garage. I put in a fair offer and just a few weeks later the deeds were mine. It is in a terrible state, last used for donkeys years ago. It will clean up though; some hard graft and lots of repairs and we will soon have it presentable."

Soon to be named 'The Auld Village Garage Corsock', the sort of wares that John believes would be at home there are garden ornaments, hanging baskets, bedding plants, garden furniture, chainsaw carvings, outdoor lamps and pottery.

But it doesn’t stop there and John suggests there are plenty of ‘crafty people’ with more ideas who he hopes would become involved. Local craftspeople will be offered space to exhibit and sell their stock at very reasonable rates and are invited to get in touch to find out more.

"The A712 that runs through Corsock isn’t exactly a busy thoroughfare but, with good marketing, I am confident we can attract locals and tourists to stop by", says John. "I have spent much of my life building businesses for instance, our other key business is Pet Flaps UK started less than four years ago and we are now the biggest installer and supplier of cat flaps and dog doors in the UK."

John believes that the old garage has great potential and hopes to put put Corsock firmly on the map as a destination rather than just a place to drive through.

If anyone would like to find out more or get involved with this project they can email: TheAuldVillageGarage@mail.com or call John on 07934 158 726.