About Us
Kilbirnie Loch is an area of water situated adjacent to the British Steel Corporation's (BSC) former Glengarnock Works. The Loch which was owned by the Corporation was used by them for industrial purposes. Although the prime use of the Loch was to supply cooling water to the Glengarnock Steelworks the British Steel Corporation and its successors recognised its potential as a leisure facility. Through the years, the British Steel Corporation entered into formal and informal agreements with several water-based sports clubs, granting them permission to practice their sport on the Loch.
The corporation were keen to ensure that the loch was used and developed as an asset for the local community i.e. the people of the Garnock Valley. Towards this end, they were instrumental, in conjunction with Cunninghame District Council (CDC), in establishing a Management Group in 1982 to co-ordinate the activities of the existing loch users and also, to promote new leisure activities on the Loch. The Group was originally made up of the representatives of BSC, CDC and the other existing users of the Loch.
In 1987 ownership of the loch was transferred to the Scottish Development Agency who appointed the Kilbirnie Loch Management Group (KLMG) an unincorporated voluntary organisation, to continue to operate in accordance with Water Management Policy. In 1991 the ownership of the loch was transferred to Scottish Enterprise who also agreed the Water Management Policy in principle. In 2021 the Council assumed responsibility for the loch and ownership was transferred to them. The Kilbirnie Loch Management Group continue to operate as previously.