Birds need our wild fields
As a member of the British Trust for Ornithology I wish to protest most strongly against the proposed housing development on the greenbelt between Loans and Muirhead.
This area is vital habit for wintering flocks of geese – Greylag, Whitefronted, Canada, Bean Geese, Whooper and Mute Swans and a wide variety of duck. Troon from the 18th century has been known as a wildfowling area thanks to its swampy fields which lie between Barassie, Loans and Muirhead.
Since 1970 and the increased housing development at Barassie and Earl’s Green this area has lost flocks of lapwing which are now on the endangered list.
In this decade of staycation, visitors come to Troon for many reasons – they will not come to our town which from Barassie to Loans is a planning nightmare on the landscape.
Visitors want green spaces and open vistas out to the Clyde estuary and beyond. Greenbelt areas are essential and protect out planet from overdevelopment and carbon gases released into the atmosphere.
As a planning team it is your responsibility to protect our valuable land and its many assets – agricultural and tourist based.
They liked the idea that the branch had no paid staff and run entirely by volunteers with all monies staying in Ayrshire to support people affected by MS , their families and carers.
In our efforts of over 40 years we have enjoyed great support from both individuals and the wider community, especially from farming circles.
It is greatly appreciated and we thank them. Without their support and our volunteers, many local people with MS in Ayrshire would be badly disadvantaged “ I am writing to say that I hope that the person who picked up my folded five 20 pound notes in Ayr two weeks ago had a good time with it. I realised it had fallen out of my purse. I was devastated about it and still cry over it.
As I am an old age pensioner who had saved up to go and see my son up north for a few days.
I’ve been ill and it was a break I was needing. Now I won’t go into Ayr etc. I help other elderly neighbours who can’t go out and I buy and share with them.
I’ve lost all my faith in people now and don’t trust them and I think I would never have done that.
I am old person with only a pension coming in and I help old folk too.
That’s the way we were brought up, not like the young folk of today.
One day they will be old themselves.
The idea EAC suddently cares about our heritage or pathways is offensive. They allowed Glenbuck and Burnfoothill to be obliterated.
They did not enforce their own policies regarding rights of way, three of which in the Patna area are currently blocked for one reason or another.
They allowed the Dunstonhill mine to severely restrict access to the village of Lethanhill - where my grandparents lived - by approving a boundary which crossed the access road.
A tarmac repair of 40m, this road was a ‘ contractual obligation’ of the pathetic re- instatement work but wasn’t done. Cherry on the cake was closing the Doon Valley Museum to save £ 24,000 a year.
Their actions show they could not care less about our history or access to it. A belated thank you to Stephen Houston for the piece he did on Linsey Kemp and her new Kumon Centre on Arthur Street.
It looked good and read very well. Alcohol Awareness Week, which runs from Monday 13 November to Friday 17 November, is an opportunity for people to think about the effects of alcohol on themselves, their families and society as a whole.
It is really worthwhile to keep a check on how many units you are drinking each week. The odd glass of wine and a big night out could equate to a large number of units which will have a negative effect on your overall health.
The NHS has a drinks tracker app which can help you keep a check on your alcohol consumption. You can download the app from iTunes or Google Play.
Drinking habits can spiral out of control with many people using alcohol as a way of coping with periods of stress and dealing with difficult situations.
Ayrshire Council on Alcohol can offer free one to one counselling to anyone concerned about their drinking.
Contact them on 01292 281238 or look at the website www. acaayr. org. Well it’s all over for another year and we hope you all enjoyed yourselves, we thank you for coming and supporting our fireworks night.
We would like to thank some people, without them it would not have been possible.
First of all our volunteers of which we had many including individuals and also organisations including Troon Ladies Circle, 41 Club - Troon, Rotary Club of Troon, Troon Tangent, Carrick Round Table and Troon Secret Santa.
For help on the night we thank Ayrshire Police Division and Ambulance Scotland for our first aiders.
To Reid’s Amusements for our Funfair, and our Food vendors including Sharma’s Street Food.
Our fantastic fireworks provided by Midnight Storm Fireworks and help and support with a truck provided from Border Cars and marquees from Fine providing of bins and as always continued support from The South Beach Hotel who provided some much needed food afterwards.
Lastly the financial help of Hillhouse Quarry Group and Discover Ayrshire for their live broadcast.
Now plans turn to Santa Float..... see you in December Fancy a rock ‘ n’ rolling Christmas? Then lace up your skates and get yourself down to Cumnock Town Hall on Saturday, December 23 for a twinkly whirl around the dance floor!
Join Rollerbeats and East Ayrshire Leisure for the ultimate afternoon of festive fun at the Christmas Roller Skating Disco, with prizes for best roller dancer and best fancy dress outfit.
There will be two family sessions in the afternoon, suitable for ages two and over, from 12.30pm to 1.15pm, and from 1.40pm to 2.25pm.
These will be followed by a session for ages 12 to 18 years from 3.10pm to 4pm.
Price per session is £ 8 per person, including skate hire and safety pads.
All ages and abilities are welcome along, and there may even be an appearance from Lapland’s very own Santa Claus!
To book, please contact the Palace Theatre box office on 01563 554900 or drop into the Town Hall. Places are limited, so early booking is advisable.