Plans for 12 flat behind Burns Statue Square

The deputy manager of a children’s nursery in South Ayrshire has been given a second chance to resurrect her career- after thumping a junior colleague during a social event.

Lynne Robertson punched a colleague on the side of the head, causing them to fall on the floor.

The incident happened during a night out with work- mates and Robertson was said to be “intoxicated.”

Robertson also prevented her colleague from leaving a bathroom, by blocking a door, a hearing was told.

However, the industry regulator, the Scottish Social Services Council ( SSSC) deemed that Robertson’s behaviour wasn’t serious enough to warrant a striking off order.

Instead, Robertson had a warning placed on her registration, which came into effect last Wednesday.

In a written judgement the SSSC said Robertson had inflicted “physical and emotional” harm to her victim.

Although the incident took place on July 21 2018, the hearing and subsequent sanction from the SSSC was only made public last week.

The nursery where Robertson works has not been revealed.

The SSSC said: “By punching a colleague in the head you ( Robertson) have behaved in a way that caused your colleague physical harm.

“Your behaviour amounts to physical abuse and put your colleague at risk of emotional harm.

“The behaviour is aggravated by your position as deputy manager, and the fact that the person you punched was one of your junior colleagues for whom you would have supervisory responsibility.”

A design statement lodged with the council said: “The existing building on the site is in extremely poor condition and the site has been vacant for a long period of time therefore it is thought that development of the site will be welcome.”

Residents would be able to choose from one or two bedroom properties.

The site was granted planning permission for homes in the past and sits within the Town Centre Conservation area. Not every home would have its own parking place according to designs.

Plans show there would only be six car spaces and a balcony for each home.

One of the reasons for the development getting fewer parking spaces is the climate emergency according to planning documents. One space would have an electric charging point. No decision has been made on the latest planning application yet.

The design statement added: “This development will improve the physical environment of Union Arcade and may act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the Burns Statue Square area.”

The square is set to be transformed when council office Burns House is torn down.