‘People are afraid to go to the High Street’
A councillor has declared some people are afraid to go to Ayr High Street as he and a MSP toured the heart of the Auld Toun.
South of Scotland MSP Sharon Dowey and councillor Derek McCabe talked to businesses as they carried out a walkabout.
Calls for food takeaways to help deal with the litter problem, free parking and social care workers hitting the streets to support people begging on the street were among suggestions.
Conservative MSP Sharon Dowey said:“It is sad to see the number of‘for let signs’and buildings that are empty.
“Covid has had an impact with the loss of Debenhams and H&M. It is about reinventing the High Street. We need to support businesses. Rent is extortionate.”
Councillor Derek McCabe, also Conservative, said:“I know people who are afraid to go down the High Street. It is not family oriented. People have to fight a gauntlet to get to the top of the town.”
He appealed for health workers to visit the town centre to offer support to drug addicts, some of them who beg in the street.
The Ayr West politician said:“There is an addiction and health and social care issue.”
Commenting on a number of issues including chuggers, he wants to see food outlets finding ways to discourage their customers from dropping packaging.
He said:“I want to involve the businesses who could offer incentives to stop people throwing away rubbish.
“The problem shouldn’t just be left to the council. I want a council town centre director hired who has direct contact with waste management, police and health and social care.
“I want an old fashion hit squad cleaning the High Street morning, noon and night.“
The opposition councillor added: “Anti-social behaviour has to be addressed and dealt with. It should not we swept under the carpet. A lot of people won’t go up the High Street because it is not dealt with.”
As‘normality’starts to return thanks to the Covid-19 vaccine, they want to see the town centre transformed into a destination.
The two politicians would like free parking introduced in Ayr.
South Ayrshire Council temporarily stopped charging in the run-up to Christmas -giving shoppers a boost.
After surveying the shopping strip, Mrs Dowey, who lives in the town, said:“It is about making it an experience to go into the town centre. One or two hours free parking would help get footfall into the High Street. Parking can be a nightmare if you are just going to nip in for 20 minutes.
“When you go to Troon or Prestwick it is vibrant. You can park.”
She appealed for councils to be adequately funded so they can scrap parking charges.
Highlighting all the empty properties, Mrs Dowey said:“Planning laws need to be relaxed so unoccupied buildings can become housing.”
South Ayrshire Council has put forward proposals to open a £40million swimming pool in the High Street to increase footfall. It is also hoped a new cinema would move into a redeveloped Kyle Centre.
I want an old fashion hit squad cleaning the High Street morning, noon and night Councillor Derek McCabe