Stormy meeting
Anger at the Riverside
South Ayrshire Council has been told to kick their plan for a new HQ branded a “shoebox” into touch
And we can reveal hope has emerged it will be axed due to a bid to oust the planning chairman from the crucial vote next month.
Councillor Brian Connolly attended the public meeting at Ayr Town Hall on Wednesday night among an astonishing turnout of 300 people.
This may be an issue under Standing Order Rules regarding declarations of interest and knowledge gained ahead of the formal regulatory panel on May 9.
If he is removed from the chair along with his casting vote, the application for the medieval Ayr Riverside block will fail.
The protest meeting was ordered by Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council.
Only seven people abstained and the rest voted against the four- storey office building - already christened a “plook” by the Ayrshire Post.
Speaker Pat Lorimer, a top architect related to Ayr’s official hangman of 1607, told the meeting: “The public and others reaction has been huge and almost universally negative.
“From a purely democratic point of view it is evident the people of Ayr and Ayrshire are deeply unhappy with this project which is being carried out in their name.
“The building is dull and mundane suited to an out of town suburban shopping precinct.
“It appears dated at present and this will only get worse.”
A n d h e a d d e d : “Ay r Rennaissance have created a waterfront Acropolis - South Ayrshire Council propose to put a portacabin on it and we must not allow this to happen.”
The Tory group will this week demand independent Connolly is not the chairman of the committee which will decide the application in two weeks’ time.
If the chairman, who has a casting vote, is banned the application will be defeated by the four conservative members.
A Tory spokesman said: “The advice we get is you are not supposed to go to any public meeting ahead of what you are about to vote on. It is untenable the that Councillor Connolly, chairman of the regulatory panel, should now take part. There needs to be a pause for reflection.”
While Council Leader Douglas Campbell was on his feet on Wednesday night, one well- dressed gent on the public seats called him a “w*****” before picking- up his briefcase and walking out.
Depute council leader Brian McGinley is to be reported to the Standards Commission for Scotland for sending an email to meeting organiser Norman McLean, chairman of Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council.
He doesn’t sit on the regulatory panel which will vote on the 350- staff office block but it is considered against rules for him to give an opinion.
Councillor Brian McGinley, who was not at the meeting, told Mr McLean: “I would be against any measures that put this investment at risk through delays, additional costs or other developmental hurdles that would make another scheme, outside Ayr, a more viable option for the Council to house its staff.”
Michael Hitchon, President of Kyle & Carrick Civic Society, was also at the top table and said: “This off- white building, somewhat devoid of architectural features and lacking character, does not respect its setting and is not one of which we may be proud.”
A Council spokesman said: “The Regulatory Panel’s consideration of the related planning application will be taken in line with the Standing Orders Relating to Meetings.”