Architect’s rebuttal
Council warned: “Step back from the brink”
a furious architect has produced a finger- tip rebuttal of dozens of points made by council planners intent on getting their new riverside block fit for approval.
The salvo by Pat Lorimer is the last before councillors vote this morning ( Wed) on whether to approve the controversial development flanking the River Ayr. Swathes of objectors are lining up to speak at the regulatory panel, telling South Ayrshire Council how daft their plan is. The four- storey block to house 350 South Ayrshire Council staff has already been savaged across the country by heritage groups. The bland £ 11 million building is supposedly the anchor to spark a new future for the foot of the High Street. Aw a r d - w i n n i n g conservationist Pat, who has already labelled it a “monstrosity” and a “cut and paste job,” said: “So far the Council has not listened to the people. “I think that there is a primary point in respect of ‘ consultation’ as the planning officer makes much of the ‘ fact’ that they consulted with the public “They did no such thing as the only consultation was via the planning portal and this was overwhelmingly negative but not a blind bit of notice was taken. “The planning process is supposed to be democratic in this instance democracy appears to have been tossed to the wind - it might be considered as a philosophy more akin to the third reich than to a civilised democracy.” Town community councillors, who will be allowed to speak for up to five minutes at the meeting, are leading the objections. They fear a plook will be built on a site said to be one of the finest medieval spots in Scotland, and don’t want a hideous block like Burns House at the top of the town. Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community C o u n c i l h a s a l s o launched the campaign # AyrDeservesBetter. Key points are the design is not in keeping with the original masterplan, it is of poor quality design, is overbearing, out of context with conservation and lack of parking. There has been a total of 364 objections - including the town’s MP and MSP - possibly the highest ever received locally. Pat, whose firm APL was responsible for the convervation of the adjacent Georgian “pink” buildings, has sent a 13page line- by- line rebuttal of the council planner’s case. He said: “Ultimately the council cannot decide this objectively. They will be the tenant and are voting for their own building.”