£ 1m on new doors … then the axe falls

South Ayrshire Council shelled out £ 1million to protect the Ayr high- rise flats from fire – just before deciding to tear them down.

Flat doors have been replaced and work has been carried out on the groundfloor communal areas of the Riverside Place blocks.

A total of 210 households participated in a survey which revealed that 111 ( 51.7 per cent) of them supported the demolition of the existing flats, with 99 ( 46 per cent ) of households calling for the flats to be refurbished.

Councillors last week voted unanimously that the three tower blocks should be demolished. Ward councillor Martin Dowey said he could not support the decision.

He said: “There are 99 families who don’t want to move.” Fort Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council does not want the blocks torn down.

A community council spokesman “Any possible fire within a flat is contained within that flat. £ 1million has been spent to enhance this safety feature. This will destroy a safe community who depend on easy access to the town centre for social connection.

“Works were agreed by councillors in October 2017”.

They were deemed necessary to “further enhance the fire safety measures in place. Surveys revealed major work was needed if the flats were to be refurbished.

The technical surveys carried out last year showed timber window sections and panels, which appear to date from the original 1969 structure of the building. Cavities were exposed by cladding installation works in 1992.

A council spokesman said: “Following the Grenfell fire, short term safety works were undertaken to maintain and improve standards until a decision on the longer term future of the blocks could be taken.“

The overall contract for the refurbishment works was £ 1,068,373.37.