You can save Ayr Flower Show
MSP John Scott launches campaign for volunteers
Green-fingered readers are being urged to come out of the undergrowth... and launch a new Ayr Flower Show.
Volunteers with plant and event skills have the chance to keep the longrunning show going.
It would take place this August - possibly at Ayr Racecourse - after the previous committee headed by solicitor John Walker threw in the towel.
Tory MSP John Scott is refusing to let the show wilt and die.
Now he is hunting a completely fresh organising committee after being snubbed by the Ayrshire Horticultural Society.
He said :“The community can save this show... it would be a travesty if it were gone forever.”
The AHS refused to consider running a scaledback event despite secret discussions.
The Ayr politician is now working on a plan to get a grass- roots event off the ground.
The AHS had been attacked for intransigence after running up loses at Rozelle Park.
They were spending nearly £ 63,000 on lavish marquees and £ 10,500 on fencing and security and even £ 23,604 on a “management fee” to try and give a Chelsea feel.
But they were unhappy when South Ayrshire Council refused to bankroll them again with a £ 20,000 bail- out.
The Racecourse, which hosted the Ayr Flower Show before the move to Rozelle, has been made aware it could return.
And the Ayrshire Post is backing the move all the way.
In the first year the thought is it would be a back- to- basics community show with a drive on to attract more flower, plant and veg entries from amateur growers.
Hopefully it could also get various flower and floral art societies on board.
Live music could be arranged and catering provided by the host venue.
John Scott said: “With more than half a century of history, the Ayr Flower Show has been a highlyvalued event in the local calendar, but now it’s time for a new Ayr Flower Show to take shape.
“Over the last two weeks, I have been in discussions with the Ayrshire Horticultural Society about the possibility of them continuing with, in the first instance, a scaled- back version of the Flower Show in order that it can be staged this year. Unfortunately, they have not felt able to agree to this.
“Firstly, I would want to put on record my sincere thanks to the directors of the Ayrshire Horticultural Society, past and present, for all their work over the years in delivering the Ayr Flower Show.
“It is now time to consider what future vehicle might take forward the Flower Show so that it is not lost to the town and wider community, so I am appealing for volunteers to come forward.
“I will do all that I can to help put together a new flower show committee, and to identify sources of funding, if I can, to make it a reality, but we need the community to rally round in support of any such bid.”
Help save Ayr Flower Show by contacting John Scott’s office on 01292 286251, 0131 348 5664 or john. scott. msp@ parliament. scot