Hourstons lying empty will blight town future
But how do you fill white elephant?
STUART WILSON
How to fix a problem like Hourtsons.
The latest white elephant of Ayr High Street has many shedding tears for glory days of retail past.
But solutions on how to fill the three storey gap site are not as easy to find.
Ayrshire Post readers were united in their view this week that the giant- sized problem will be tough to solve.
Horse- racing fan Ricky Carson, 54, reckons his hometown faces more than a few hurdles.
But he said: “Help must come from the council first and foremost.
“You hear everyone moaning about rates in this town and we need to give businesses some kind of assistance.”
Karen Pajovic, who runs coffee shop Cafe Le Monde with husband, Nino, added: “Maybe we need to think outside the box.
“A high quality spa and leisure facility might help to bring a new kind of customer into the town and help with footfall.”
Travel agent Vanessa Good, 32, said: “The biggest problem is filling a unit of that size.
“But as ever, the more encouragement for independents in town, the better.”
And barman Davie Watson, 32, said: “The council should move their staff in there and at least make use of it going forward.”
A high quality spa and leisure facility might bring new customer
Karen Pajovic