Council snub to Captain Sir Tom
A request to honour Captain Sir Tom Moore has been knocked back by South Ayrshire Council.
The authority’s leader, Peter Henderson, has turned down calls to lower flags at County Buildings to half mast. The SNP councillor said the public had“already shown their appreciation nationally”and any such move for Captain Tom would not take place in Ayr.
The council’s Conservative Group had requested the flags be lowered as a mark of respect on the day of the war veteran’s funeral. He raised more than £32 million for NHS charities during lockdown laps of his back garden last year which captured imaginations around the world.
Cllr Henderson told the Post:“While appreciating the contribution of Sir Tom, it is also the case that sadly many local individuals who have contributed to society often raising large funds and benefiting the community, have also died recently.”
The South Ayrshire leader said council protocols dictate that flags could only be lowered for“national and international persons and prominent people with a significant link to South Ayrshire.”
He added:“There is no significant link to South Ayrshire that I am aware of and not to similarly recognise those many local people who have contributed would, I feel, show disrespect and not be in compliance with our established protocols.”
Conservative group leader, Councillor Martin Dowey, said:“I am saddened by this decision but unfortunately not surprised.”
An angry couple claim their static caravan is being ‘held to ransom’ by a site owner.
Ronnie Paterson, 66, and his wife Christine, 63, say a £700 cash dispute is preventing them from moving their caravan off Prestwick Holiday Park.
Ronnie has enlisted solictiors to remove his caravan from the site which is owned by Arthur McKay.
Ronnie said: “Christine and I received a letter from McKay in November requiring us to remove our caravan from the site before February 28, 2021.”
Ronnie revealed that they were hit with a disconnection fee of £700 and added: “When the initial letter arrived and we read it we were totally shocked by its contents.”
The couple phoned for an explanation and a copy of the site’s terms and conditions but they say they were told there were none.
Ronnie said: “He [McKay] could give any caravan owner a three-month notice to vacate their pitch on the site. Even a brandnew caravan. His words to Christine regarding terms and conditions was, ‘suck it and see’.”
The couple, from East Kilbride, have opted to trade in their current caravan and take up a pitch elsewhere.
However, when representatives from the couple’s new caravan site, Drimsynie Estates, contacted the team at Prestwick about uplift of the caravan they were told that they could not remove it - unless payment was made for the £700 disconnection fee.
Ronnie said: “Our complaint is that they have told to us leave the site, therefore we have done as asked. ”
In his letter to quit the site, Mr McKay said: “As your caravan is now beyond the age and stage of being a worthy proposition, we will be unable to offer you a pitch for the oncoming season. We will therefore require it to be removed before 28/02/21.”
He later issued an invoice for pitch maintenance and removal for £700.
When contacted by the Post, Mr McKay replied: “There are two sides to every story.”