It’s the great Tory giveaway

Tory chiefs have pledged to unveil a booming counter budget filled with prizes for all of South Ayrshire.

Money for potholes, floral displays, litter picking, Christmas lights and gala days are all included in the war chest.

And investment in Prestwick swimming pool and Dalmilling golf course – securing the long term future of both – is also being promised.

Conservatives insist it can all be done without closing any of the council’s underthreat services.

Opposition leader, Martin Dowey, denied this week that his plan was a “financial fantasy”.

That’s despite a string of spending in the face of a £ 7 million budget deficit.

He said: “Nothing could be further from the truth.

“Our budget has been fully signed off by the council’s chief financial officer and would be ready to go this week if required.”

Cllr Dowey will pledge £ 1 million for South Ayrshire’s rotten roads and another £ 200,000 for a war on litter.

Spending of £ 500,000 for a gym expansion at Prestwick pool will be funded from the 2020/ 21 capital budget. And a similar fee will be spent on upgrading the golf clubhouse at Dalmilling.

A freeze on some non- essential recruitment will help to generate seven figures in the opposition budget, it is understood.