Anger over chemo unit axe

They failed with the A & E closure, now it’s the chemotherapy unit at Ayr.

Does the management of Ayrshire and Arran health board have nothing better to do than sit in back rooms discussing how to disrupt or shut down crucial services? Clearly they have too much time on their hands.

Centralisation, what would be the possible pros and cons? Would the medical staff at Ayr need to be transferred, or would staff and equipment be reduced creating less appointments and longer waiting times. One possible saving would be that the Ayr management team would no longer be require. What contingency plans have been made to accommodate the increase in parking requirements of the extra staff and patients at Crosshouse, for those patients who require NHS transport? What would be the extra cost accrued by the move?

Does Crosshouse have the facilities to accommodate the increase in staff, equipment and patients or would they be squeezed into the present area?

With regard to the welfare of the patients, I find it hard to believe that any of the medical professionals would be in agreeance with the extra stresses, pressures this move would cause already vulnerable cancer sufferers, eg more time away from home, more time travelling, extra expense, especially those who have to arrange their own transport.

Another financial decision made by people with no consideration for the wellbeing of many cancer sufferers which this decision would affect. resident I have more than 1 near miss. Also there are more young children in the street now, and it’s an accident waiting to happen. Let’s face it neither the council or the railway are prepared to address the problem, in fact the council need to address the whole parking situation in Ayr! I would like to thank you for your article about how this building is being saved and Robin Ghosh’s plans for it.

Hopefully he’ll get full planning permission and it will go ahead.

I met him once about 10 years ago and was impressed with his knowledge and caring view, a neighbour interrupted our brief chat and he excused himself to me then proceeded to explain to my neighbour what to look for and who would be an appropriate person to contact. He certainly was a kind and knowledgeable man so hopefully Seafield will be a success.

I suggest that South Ayrshire Council give him a part- time consultancy position to look into saving more of the older buildings. Especially the Station Hotel, Belleisle Hotel and a few of the other older buildings in the town. Well done to Bob Shields for ‘ flying the flag’ of common sense in the Ayrshire Post(‘ LGBT flag move may be equality at a cost’).

While it is right that a council which sees itself as progressive should lend its support to a section of the community suffering from prejudice, what is the rationale for singling out LGBT?

If South Ayrshire Council really wants to show its support for disadvantaged groups, perhaps it should look at the statistics. According to the Scottish Government’s figures, there are less than 3% LGBT people in Scotland, but around 20% have a disability. That’s more than six times as many.

People with disabilities also want to be treated with dignity and respect, and without prejudice. Presumably ‘ as a commitment to diversity for all’ therefore we can shortly expect to see Ayrshire Council flying a flag for people with disabilities? ( By the way, I don’t have a disability so I don’t have a vested interest here).

But perhaps there is something else going on here? Why is it that, with the apparent outbreak of rainbow- itis in South Ayrshire Council, the motion had to be proposed and seconded by SNP Councillors? Reference to the previous week’s Ayrshire Post gives a clue. One group in the Council said they ‘ would not block the motion’ – hardly a ringing endorsement of the proposal. And of course the motion was passed unanimously, as no councilor would wish to be accused of homophobia!

What’s clearly going on here is the failing SNP’s cynical attempt at every level of government to try to appeal to as many demographics as possible, as a bribe for votes. LGBT people ( tick). At last week’s party conference they urged delegates to ‘ go out and recruit young people’ ( tick). They are also going to pay the ‘ admission fee’ for EU nationals in the public sector after Brexit ( tick). And don’t forget baby boxes ( tick young parents), the amnesty for those who didn’t historically pay their council tax ( tick), and a presumption of noncustodial sentences where a sentence of one year or less is appropriate ( tick criminals). I could go on.

For goodness sake, if the SNP found out that half the population painted their bottoms yellow ( or any other colour of the rainbow!), the VAT on that product would be removed overnight!

So Bob was right, don’t be hoodwinked into flying the flag for minority and prejudiced groups, there is plenty of good work already being done. Get on with the day job. I am indebted to my two neighbours, Bob Hannah and David Croft- Smith, for their time and trouble.

They helped expose the possible duplicity used by councillors to pass planning permission given for one plastic pitch to be used for the laying of two pitches without the seeking of further planning permission.

I am indebted to my two long deceased grandparents for teaching me the meaning of a word I now find useful in the describing of all politicians, ‘ sleekit’.

My response is to use the democratic process to spoil my voting as I have done in the past by writing “None of these” on my voting paper. Just like the programme “Cheers,” everyone walks in and they know your name.

We have come back from Canada with many friends and have never been forgotten in the Wee Windaes.

It’s the first place we head. This time we were there from 1pm- 7pm - that tells you something! Great hospitality and great food always. Keep it going! In response to the criticisms of the Low Green & Ayr Seafront Trust last week ( letters page) we would like to make these points.

LAST was fully consulted by the Council regarding the electricity substation on the Low Green and went to a meeting to see the plans a year ago.

It was an upgrade to an existing facility and necessary to upgrade the power supply of County Buildings and because of its size and location had minimum impact on the Low Green.

We were also promised it would be painted green and have no ugly security fence around it. The Council is renting the land from itself, with the money going to the Common Good.

You might wish to take up with the Council and with Ayr Renaissance why they are renewing the benches opposite Golden Disc Amusements and exactly how much council tax money they are spending on that.

As far as the Low Green is concerned LAST was instrumental in making the Low Green a Conservation Area in Januarywhich makes sure it remains an open space in perpetuity and that such things as the Air Show can happen.

Also whether they are good, bad or indifferent the Councillors were only elected by you and me less than six months ago so we will not get a chance to change them until the next elections.

LAST is a community organisation. It is not a substitute for the Council or other official bodies. Its aim is simply to preserve the Low Green and other open spaces of Ayr. Its management committee is comprised wholly of unpaid volunteers.

We were also one of the main organisations this year opposing the ruining of the picturesque Doon area by an extension of the Doonfoot Garage onto Common Good public land. If you truly are concerned about the open spaces of Ayr then you should consider joining LAST or doing something else yourself to try to make a difference, rather than dispaging its constant efforts to preserve Ayr’s open spaces for future generations.