Police must up beach game

I read with some concern your article regarding the ‘ thousands of teens’ heading to Troon last Monday with the hot weather. It was not representative of what actually happened.

I travelled from Glasgow to Troon on the 1300 entering the first carriage to find it full of 13- 17 year olds with bottles of beer and in one case a litre bottle of vodka being passed around.

I spoke to the ticket examiner only to be told ‘ here we go again’.

I disembarked the train to the two police officers who were standing on the platform who clearly were not doing their jobs.

On reporting said finding they entered the train and ceased nothing, after leaving the station with choruses of ‘ cheerio’ came from the intoxicated crowd.

When the ticket examiner came past me I asked why did the police not stop any drink? He replied they couldn’t find any! Yet the litre bottles of vodka and now 2 litre bottles of cider had appeared.

There was no presence on the train either from BTP or Police Scotland and for the entire journey myself and other law abiding citizens had to endure swearing, rubbish being thrown around and fighting.

The first police presence we saw was at Irvine station and Barassie with the largest contingent at Troon.

My point is there should have been no drink on that train.

There were youths on that train clearly not capable of looking after themselves.

Where were the police and why were these youths allowed to travel?

Yet in Troon we still had teenagers urinating in the street and gardens.

Throwing bottles into the tennis courts yet you and the police report it was an easier day?

Troon residents are fed up with this annual event which is happening all too often.

Residents are fed up the police can’t protect our community residents are going to start fighting back to bring law order back to their own community. The sand menace on Ayr shore is man made by South Ayrshire Council, who in the 1980s - probably without consulting tidal engineers - placed far too many large rocks on the shore side of the south pier. This altered the flow of the water. When I was young we used the bathing stations, whose foundations are still there, by going down the steps into several feet of water.

The battery has been desicrated by a huge block of compressed coal, supposedly to mark the end of the river walk. The old gun positions can still be seen, the four guns were taken for scrap during the war.

Replacing the would have been more suitable than this hideous lump. Do they ever consult local citizens about these matters?

They are having offices built in the High Street, this is the last thing the town needs.

There are empty offices all over the town, they should be focusing on sorting out flats for people to live in and revive the town centre as a living space. I am researching members of my family who fought in WW1 and came across the name of Rev John Kellie as mentioned in an article in the Post on August 4.

I was interested in the information about John’s daughter Jean Ramsay Kellie where it stated she was ‘.... killed in a fairground accident in 1931...’.

The Dundee Courier dated 24th August 1931 mentions that Jean was ‘ on holiday at Aird Farm near Stranraer.... she died from injuries received by falling from a swing on a tree at the farm.....’.

I appreciate the Post has access to a multitude of records but I would also appreciate it if you could clarify..... was there a fairground near Aird Farm at that time? Is that how Jean died? My interest is also in local history and I try to validate any information I find before I take notes about it. Thank you very much for publishing my article on the future of the station hotel and if my vision comes to fruition I shall be very pleased.

However as a nonagenarian I would not be adverse to an offer of a special suite with first class hotel service.

This is provided of course my wife and I are fortunate and fit enough to enjoy a few more happy years together. I read with interest plans to change the long- established flight routes out of Prestwick Airport.

Especially “more efficient” new route for planes bound for America. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking but maybe this could be a chance to bring transatlantic flights back to Prestwick. It is greatly encouraging to Kyle and Carrick Civic Society that many people have expressed support for the retention and rescue of Ayr’s iconic Station Hotel, which must be the largest listed building in town.

As gateway for all travelling here by rail, it is the first building to greet them and looks in a sorry state. In other places throughout the country, large neglected listed buildings have been given a new lease of life.

In Kilmarnock the Opera House and the Johnnie Walker Bond have new uses, and Cumnock Town Hall has been upgraded.

Irvine Townhouse and Salcoats Town Hall have also been given a makeover, the former being open for Doors Open Day on Saturday, September, 2.

Old stone buildings make a significant contribution to the character of Ayr.

We see inspiration in the examples given above and respectfully suggest that perhaps on this occasion the local authority is the best organisation to lead a viable scheme to redevelop Ayr Station Hotel before it is too late. How great it is to finally see some action on the beach at Prestwick.

But is it just a coincidence that the council leap into action on the eve of the Prom day this Saturday?

This work should have been carried out months ago but instead, the people of the town have been ignored when it comes to action.

Here’s hoping they continue the hard work long after the crowds have left! Recently we purchased a new Tumble Dryer from a local well known electrical goods supplier.

Inside the dryer along with various bits and pieces was a sample “In Wash Scent Booster” from Lenor which was very generous of them.

Intrigued by the idea of a wash scent booster we just had to read the small print on the back of the packet as to how this small packet would make our clean washing so much better.

We have yet to try this sample because reading the small print we became aware that the beads were “harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects” and “if swallowed immediately call a Poison Centre/ Doctor”.

I suggest that the two phrases above should give most of us the thought that this product should not be allowed anywhere near our waste water treatment works or small children.

I also suggest that a) we should all read the small print of the products we casually throw into our household appliances to check environmental impact b) when we dispose of the empty packets we take the advice of the instructions and ensure that we dispose of the contents/ container to appropriate local waste systems and. c) that those who manage our waste systems are aware of the need to ensure these products do not enter our fresh/ salt water systems.

I realise that most of the media and government attention is on air quality but to ignore danger to our fresh and salt water systems is total folly.