Talk of the town from our social media

South Scotland Labour list MSP Colin Smyth branded the take-up figures from young people eligible for free bus travel across South Ayrshire as “dire”.

Charlie Taylor

Without an adequate bus service a free pass is pointless.

Richard Harvey

So under 22s get free bus passes, most of whom have never paid tax or national insurance, while people over 22 who pay tax and national insurance have to pay to get to work, or go for a night out. Every time the bus fares go up it costs the tax payers more because the Scottish Government pay a percentage of every fare. Another well thought out policy by the SNP. Dragging Scotland down.

Daniel Hernández

Should be free for everybody. The current bus system is ridiculous. Free for a minority, unreal prices for the rest. Make it free for everyone and you’ll see what happens with the demand.

Anne McClure

Maybe it’s more to do with the reducing number and reliability of services! My kids and their friends are getting good use from them when the buses actually turn up.

Claire Pearce

If your child doesn’t have photo id then it’s impossible to get for them. Also the application is very difficult so there are possibly some parents out there who struggle to fill it out.

Ann Robertson

Lack of buses in rural areas in the evenings and weekends makes it useless.

Popular jeweller Alan Nisbet-Baldwin, 82, of His Nibs in Ayr’s Newmarket Street, has officially retired after 43 years in the business and is now handing over the reins to his son, Gareth.

Irene McGill

All the very best Alan enjoy your well-deserved retirement

Jane Macleod

Happy retirement Alan, such a nice man x

Nicola Wright

Alan’s a great guy couldn’t meet a nicer man happy retirement.

Christina Fitzsimmons

Enjoy your retirement Alan best wishes from the lady with the wee digital Casio watch from the 1970’s and it’s still going strong

A grieving daughter has been told she can’t be by her dad’s graveside when his body is exhumed.

Amanda Missy Carey

I’m going to get jumped on here and believe me wen i say its shocking that this happened to anyones resting place but there are laws in place regarding exhumation and construction which everyone needs to follow. There’s the safety aspect as there will be machinery and only staff members are to be permitted to be within these perimeters and theres also the fact that you can file a law suit for emotional distress if the exhumation traumatises you which SAC wont risk. Plots should never have been sold in the first place xx

Margaret Tabor

Absolutely disgraceful my thoughts and prayers are with all the families concerned

Leigh Houston

If the council had been up front and honest with the families who recently bought plots and told them about the situation that they were aware of then they could have saved at least some families some heartache. Instead they decided to take the money and say nothing - until our loved ones were buried. Heartless and money grabbing. Yes, this is a situation that nobody would have imagined could happen - however withholding that information when they had it is just down right disgusting.

The owner of the Station Hotel has six months to engage with the new administration of South Ayrshire Council or the hotel will be demolished.

Tes Dragonfive

The Station Hotel is the gateway to the town. It needs to be saved. If we let it go it will be replaced with some modern monstrosity. How can we trust the local council who can’t make a decision over the area left by the knocking down of Woolworths or the shopping centre near Houstons. Not to mention the gap left next to the cinema. Alloway school, The Elms Hotel, Belleisle House? Honestly I would be raging if they ignored the wishes of townspeople who met at the town hall a few years ago. I think that they are hoping if they delay we will stop caring. I still care!

Chris Rutter

.This should have been compulsory purchased and demolished or refurbished well before now!

Sylvia Simpson

The owner will wait till the council spend the money knocking it down then claim the land and try to build on it.

If they do knock it down they must ensure he can’t then come back and try and claim/build on it