FirstclassfacilityforAyr

25 YEARS AGO

I was surprised to read that South Ayrshire Council Conservative Group Leader councillor Martin Dowey has vowed to stop the development of a multi-million Town Centre Leisure Complex planned for Ayr Town Centre (Ayrshire Post 03/02/2021) .

As one of the Independent members of the council administration that have worked hard to make sure that even in these difficult times both socially and financially that investment was put in place to safeguard the fabric, vitality, attractiveness and most importantly business viability of the County Town, I am sure that the good citizens of Ayr and beyond would appreciate that focus.

The decision that was taken forward by the administration’s Leadership Panel and approved in January with work being done by SAC Officers to bring back further progress reports in due course.

When the decision was taken there followed a further three days before the decision could be adopted to allow the decision to be called in by any elected member who had concerns. Why were no concerns raised by councillor Dowey?

I have been a councillor since 2012 and from the very beginning I have been aware of just what a financial black hole that the Citadel really is just by looking at audited figures and therefore here we have chance to revitalise Ayr Town Centre by providing first class facilities that will attract and bring footfall to the town centre, secure the positions of our dedicated staff colleagues , make a positive financial case and look at better possibilities for the citadel site. I am reminded of the drive by the Conservative Group under the Bill McIntosh administration to take forward plans at all costs for the foot of Ayr High Street on the site of the old Forum Centre and its neighbours only then for the same group to totally oppose their own plans going through Regulatory Panel. What a mess! It seems to me that there is a background set of unelected voices with a grasp of power. Then again a couple of elections are on the horizon. I’ll leave the politics out and concentrate on making sure that all of our communities get the investment that all residents deserve. Councillor Alec Clark, Independent

The Arctic weather refuses to loosen its grip on British racing with the whole week’s turf programme now facing a whiteout squarely in the eyes.

Mark Kershaw, general manager at Ayr racecourse, was, however, optimistic about the course’s chances for Saturday after yesterday’s Met Office report.

He said:“I seem to spend 90 per cent of my time on the phone to them at the moment but we may be lucky.”