Late night headache
Residents fed up with disruption
Residents fear the busy Prestwick night strip is invading their quiet street.
Cars blocking drives, horns beeping and vehicles on double yellows and chevrons are a regular occurrence for people living on St Quivox Road.
People say customers visiting dessert parlour Flakes are parking illegally on the road.
They are worried more businesses will move into empty units on the street and bring even more traffic mayhem.
Flakes, which is open until 11pm, was given permission to become a food and drink business at a recent council Regulatory Panel meeting. The premises seats 18 customers.
Residents Julie Laing, F rances Ewan and couple Victor and Karen Sproat objected to the retrospective planning application from the business.
Frances complained about vehicles blocking her in.
She said: “You can’t get in your drive or back out. It could be half an hour. We have phoned the police many times.
“You get abuse if you ask people to move politely.”
“B e f o r e g i v i n g businesses licences, the council should sort out the basics first.”
Karen said cars visiting Flakes have led to noise and light pollution.
She said: “They sit outside with their lights on and engines idling. They fling rubbish out.”
The Flakes application was considered under the local development plan rule for enhancing the vitality of town centres.
A report from council planners said: “The site, and immediate locality is situated within Prestwick town centre, and as such, is bound by a variety of different land uses.”
The meeting heard the proposal from Flakes would not have an adverse impact on the town centre amenity.
But the residents don’t agree with their road being treated like the Main Street.
Julie said: “We feel like the council have not listened. They don’t consider residents. They say it is part of the town centre but it wasn’t when we bought the house. There are still three empty units on the street. We are worrying what it could be like in the future.
“If people parked legally, it would be okay.”
There is a parking bay for customers but the residents say it is used by staff.
They are calling for traffic wardens to patrol the street and fear businesses may end up opening later than 11pm.
An Ayrshire Road Alliance spokeswoman said a Traffic Regulation Order is being considered .
She said: “Enforcement will be able to take place once the TRO is agreed.”