Don’t turn our great street to dust
Residents uprising over demolition
Heartless council chiefs have been urged to rethink plans to tear down an entire street.
Home- owners and tenants in Doonbank Crescent, near Patna, were told of the plan when a handdelivered letter dropped through their doors – four days before Christmas.
And after months of uncertainty, residents have banded together to urge East Ayrshire Council to save their street.
Tempers flared as more than a dozen angry families met with council officials at Patna Community Centre last week.
Nan Mackie, 57, moved into her mother- in- law’s home six years ago and was one of the lead voices at the meeting. She said: “I arranged this meeting so that people who can’t speak up for themselves can have their say. It’s a slap in the face what’s happening to us.
“The council have lied to us. They’re trying to destroy everything that I’ve got left.”
Neighbourhood manager John Stokes insisted to those gathered that the plans had to go ahead because of “depopulation” in the street.
He said: “We’re facing a situation where a lot of properties are empty. You can’t sustain a situation where a community loses that many people.
“We have a commitment to build 16 new homes in Patna.”
But his comments sparked fury as residents claimed people left the street because East Ayrshire Council had turned it into a “dumping ground” for those removed from other communities.
And residents baulked at offers of around £ 17,000 for their properties – with some paying more than £ 50,000 to buy their home less than a decade ago.
William Stevenson, 74, was born in Doonbank and said: “East Ayrshire Council are raping the valley. There’s no other word for it.
“They’ve taken away our museum, our golf course and now this. They’ve left the kids with nothing to do.”
Housing bosses at the meeting promised “options” to those hit if the Doonbank demolition plans get the go ahead.
But they were met with strong opposition when they suggested people could be moved into the centre of Patna – or even further afield in East Ayrshire.
Councillor Drew Filson, an independent member for the Doon Valley, joined the protestors at the meeting. He said: “I’m really surprised at the way the council notified the residents, just four days before Christmas. It’s all the uncertainty that’s causing the stress. It’s the same thing that’s happening in Rankinston.” Elaine Dinwoodie, a Labour Councillor for the area, is also backing the campaign. She said: “It’s a disgrace that the council are doing this. Doonbank has always been a separate community and close knit. I’d like to think the council would take note of what people have to say before they make a final decision.” Any decision made on the future of Doonbank Crescent must go before East Ayrshire Council’s cabinet. And it’s expected it may take more than a year. s