Resident hits out at racecourse ‘mess’
Pipes and debris abandoned next to houses
A fuming resident has hit out at Ayr Racecourse leaving their grounds in a “mess.”
John Murray said he is forced to look at an eyesore at the end of his garden in Craigie, which he claims attracts rats.
The patch is strewn with broken pipe parts, stones, discarded tree trunks, piles of soil and debris beside pine trees.
The Racecourse has been laying drainage in the area after sodden ground led to the Ayr Gold Cup being cancelled.
Heavy rainfall in September led to the course being waterlogged.
A spokesman for Ayr Racecourse this week said that ongoing drainage work at the course will be finished by next week and then the land will be reinstated.
But former firefighter John said: “It is like a jungle out there. They have left an awful mess facing on to Craigie. The Racecourse needs to level the ground and tidy it up. But it seems to be a case of out of sight out of mind. It is just a mess.
“That is all I’m complaining about and I’m not the only person who has complained about it.
John, 58, claims the unsightly ground, which lies adjacent to James Campbell Road, has been in a state for about two months. He says has talked to Racecourse staff about his concerns but so far no action has been taken.
He has lived in the street for 18 years.
The dad-of-five added: “I went around to the Racecourse and asked they what they were doing on the ground.
“They said they were laying drainage. I don’t want to look at that for the rest of my days.
“Who would want to look out on that?
“They laid a pipe, dug up all this debris and left it there. It causes vermin.
“I have spotted rats out there. They have not made an effort to tidy it up. The other bits of the Racecourse are so nice. I saw about 10 landscapers working on ground by the hotel. They keep other parts in a pristine condition. I am considering contacting health and safety about this issue.”
Ian Ferguson, head of PR at Ayr Racecourse, said: “There currently is ongoing drainage work being carried out on the track which won’t be finished for another week.
“Once this is completed all the soil and tree roots will be cleared and the land reinstated.”