Ayrshire Growth Deal snub

I am astounded by the deafening silence of our local and parliamentary representatives regarding the snub by the Chancellor of the Exchequer just two weeks ago of the collective call for support of the Ayrshire Growth Deal in the UK Budget.

Given the call in some of their local election manifestos to support that objective, their consequent silence is shameful frankly.

Two issues arise that defy economic belief. The first, about which I will seek to comment more widely and shortly, is the support for the Cities’ Deal and the second is the proposed Borderland economic deal to cover the Borders and the North of England both of which severely impact Ayrshire.

Firstly, if the Scottish Government persist, with the support of the UK Government, in a deal which enforces the economic power of our largest cities, it will be guilty of replicating the worst aspects of the UK economy where London is on economic ‘ fire’ while smaller urban and rural areas around it and the North/ North West of England become increasingly and consequently depressed and economic ‘ ashes’. This is and will be the economic rock on which we founder never mind Brexit.

It is no accident that since 2008 recession annual rents of private flats, houses and property in Glasgow and Edinburgh have risen between 25- 30 per cent per annum while in South Ayrshire they have risen by less than 5 per cent so why, you might ask, would developers invest here when there are richer pickings elsewhere notwithstanding that the longer term rate of return on such investments would be greater in Ayrshire.

That is now to be exacerbated by the Scottish Government’s investment in economic ‘ Cities’ development in the Central Belt i. e. Edinburgh and Glasgow where the attraction of investment, people and jobs will create a rising demand and prices for housing, resulting in a rising demand for salaries and income all of which will create a total disruption of the wider Scottish economy including Ayrshire.

London calling?? The answer to that is an aggressive international inward co- ordinated investment campaign for Ayrshire.

Secondly, the Borderland deal is a blatant political deal pursued by the UK Government to attempt to negate the current and ongoing further devolution debate. To construct such a body is, one believes, an attempt to construct a checkmate on that debate.

The questions that it raises clearly confronts the differences that already exist between the North of England and the South of Scotland on taxation and business rates, not to mention the vastly different support activities such as the enterprise, skills and college activities between these areas. There is no rationale that stands behind this plan other than the puerile, infantile and tribal infestation of our current politics.

Our answer to that is an assertive very high profile national and international marketing campaign to sell the Ayrshire brand and to secure those who can “sell” the brand.

For too long we have not had the expertise or experience of economic development where we can “sell “the brand of which we can all be proud. That has to change and change very quickly. Can I make it clear that South Ayrshire Council is not paying off any loan taken out by Ayr Gaiety Partnership.

Some people seem to have got this impression from your article about the council’s future support for the theatre.

The AGP board welcome the council’s decision to provide a significant but reducing level of annual investment in a three year agreement – it will mean that the theatre and our outreach activity will continue. This is fantastic news.

In addition the council have offered to replace an existing loan we have with another at a lower interest rate.

For the Gaiety, this will be exactly the same as moving to a mortgage provider with a better deal.

And the clever thing is that, while AGP will benefit, it shouldn’t cost the council anything.

Far from “paying off” any loan, South Ayrshire Council will provide the loan – which will be paid off by AGP through our existing restoration levy.

This is a great example of the council finding a way to continue to support a key local organisation at lower cost to the taxpayer.

I hope this helps explain the position. Regarding last week’s letter from Forbes Robertson questions about the old Ailsa Snooker Hall.

His first question was how many snooker tables were there? There were 11 snooker tables plus one table, which was number12 next to the pay desk, which was used exclusively for billiards.

So the hall had 12 tables but only 11 of them were for snooker.

He also asks the names of the two characters who worked there.

One was Peter Smith and the other was Archie McIloney.

The snooker hall was owned by two spinster sisters.

They came in every Saturday afternoon to collect the week’s takings.

Sadly, Archie died while on duty after suffering a heart attack in the early 70s.

Forbes also asks how many extra balls were added to the table in the game snooker plus what were the colours and what were the points.

The additional colours were orange, valued eight points, and it was placed halfway between the pink spot and the blue spot.

The other additional colour was purple which was valued at nine points and placed halfway between the blue spot and the brown spot.

Here’s a wee tester for Forbes... can he remember the games of hidden pool, life pool, pin, skittles, golf and lastly 69?

I would be happy to tell him how these games were played if he can’t remember. On Tuesday, December 5, I was driving down Heathfield Road past the primary school when suddenly a car parked at the school side of the road flung its driver’s door open, causing me to swerve to avoid getting my car hit.

The man dropping his children off immediately became aggressive towards me, shouting and swearing at me, calling me names when it was obvious that he was in the wrong.

What kind of example is this to set young children, shouting and swearing at a woman driver?

I am not surprised that young children grow up not knowing how to behave. Before the council imposes charges for car parks that are often used by visitors to Ayr, how about upholding fines for the vast amount of out- ofhours illegal parking on double yellow lines around the centre of town.

Immediately after parking attendants finish for the day at 5 pm some streets are nigh on impassable with cars flaunting the law. Wellington Lane sports 10- 15 cars parked every single week night, often blocking access to private car parks and leaving little space for traffic to pass. Fullerton Street is solid with parked cars, as are most of the side streets around the centre. ONE parking attendant, even on overtime rates, could well and truly take in more than their wages on a daily basis.

Concerned rate payer.