SNP man: Time to close golf courses
Meeting hears of shock plan to build housing
A top political candidate has sparked panic in his own party – by pledging to CLOSE council golf courses on the eve of the election.
SNP hopeful John Wallace stunned party activists by claiming he would build houses on our municipal fairways.
The pledge, at a hustings in Prestwick’s 65 Club, forced party bosses to issue a climbdown just hours after the meeting.
It followed the bombshell from Wallace, standing for election in Prestwick, who said: “We’ve got 22 golf courses in this county alone.
“This might shock a few people, but I’d close some of them for housing.
“We’re spending far too much subsidising these courses and, let’s face it, we’ve got plenty of them.”
A quickfire clarification followed from Ayr’s SNP leader, Allan Dorans, who said: “May I make it clear that is a personal opinion expressed by John Wallace.
“This has not been discussed and certainly has not been agreed by the SNP council group and does not form part of our manifesto.
“We have no intention or plans to take such action.”
Dalmilling in Ayr and Maybole have been prime targets to sell off to developers in the past.
The off- script intervention lit up Friday night’s final exchange of blows in the Prestwick seat, played out in front of 60 community diehards.
Few things are certain in this week’s election, other than the knockout for one sitting councillor in this seat.
Wallace’s transfer from Ayr East ensures that five incumbent members will do battle for just four available spots.
And, along with Independent Alasdair Malcolm, they are set to fight a tooth and nail battle.
Ayrshire golf administrator, Malcolm, had more reason than most to fall off his chair at the proposal to shut public courses.
But it was his steady performance among the political strife and promise to be “a voice for Prestwick” that made most impression.
Prestwick’s big issues were once again to the fore, with the town’s missing steeple and vanishing sand the hot topics of discussion.
Wallace once again swung for the hills by insisting: “They say it will cost £ 300,000 to bring back that steeple – and I personally don’t think that’s a lot of money for this council.”
Unsurprisingly, more caution was exerted at the opposite end of the crease with Tories Hugh Hunter and Margaret Toner and Labour’s Helen Moonie suggesting the steeple could not become a bottomless pit.
Council veteran Hunter said: “If we could get our hands on £ 300,000, I’d want to see the Freemen’s Hall back into use in its entirety – not just a steeple.”
But Malcolm, striking the voice of reason tone, said: “The steeple has become symbolic of Prestwick and saying we don’t have the money is not good enough.
“There is a legal and moral obligation to have it restored.”
Two of the six candidates on Prestwick’s ballot paper will find their hopes beached come Friday.
But hopefully not in a similar state to the town’s once sandy shores.
Branded the “worst in the west of Scotland” by an audience baying for blood, this was a panel short on answers.
Hunter said: “I was once hauled into the leaders’ office and lambasted for saying the beach was a disgrace – but it is.”
Bricks being dumped on Prestwick’s golden sands from nearby Newton shore is not a problem disappearing overnight.
But whoever gains the town’s votes will be expected to clean up that mess – and a whole lot more.
• An Ayr independent candidate insists councillors should hand back £ 5000 of their annual wage.
Andy Bryden, standing in Ayr East, said: “The money should go into the Common Good Fund and be put to much better use.”