Plea to restore Ayr’s character

In January 2017, we wrote to South Ayrshire Council as follows: We welcome the proposed retention of the 18th centurary building at 8- 10 High Street, Ayr.

It was clear that Historic Enviromental Scotland also wanted the building to be retained as a stop end to limit the extent of new build along the High Street Development Site at Riverside.

Now the old dressed stone building is at risk, we call on the council to stablise it and make it safe for housing.

It would be a splendid first project for the building to be converted to provide residential accommodation in the town centre as now advocated by the council.

It could be the start of the rescue and reuse of some of the stone buildings down the High Street that contribute much to the characater of Ayr Town Centre. Let’s see something positive happening following too much recent destruction. It could be a useful building of which we may all be proud, first of the many needing rescue.

G Michael Hitchon, MBE, president of Kyle & Carrick Civic Society

OasisunderClockTower

What a colourful display greeted the reader on pages 8 and 9 of the Post last week with flags aplenty on show.

Took me back to the time when the then Butlins displayed numerous world flags along its front.

Armed with knowledge from my “Flags of the World” card collection, I challenged myself to name as many as possible. So for the record, I could spot the Saltire, Union Jack, Tricolour, Lion Rampant, Estelada ( dervived from the Senyera), and Ensign. Could also spot various adaptions of the Saltire, though whether these would receive approval by Hungus is a matter of speculation. Perhaps in future a red square flag, bordered in blue, with a white square within could be added to the collection, imagining where some sympathies may lie. This of course may be taking a step too far in historical deception.

B Wilson, Ayr

OasisunderClockTower

It’s easy to become despondent about many issues especially if one walks down Ayr High Street.

Yet there is an oasis centre under the Wallace Clock Tower. It’s the fruit and vegetable stall. Apart from the excellent produce plys very reasonable prices and the service is first class.

It is a friendly courteous and kindly. The team is made up of Kevin, two Roberts, two Steves who deal with the public so easily. Many customers know the names of the team and the team knows many names of the customers.

Service provided is excellent — they will even deliver a bag of tatties to your home. The stall always has such a colourful display and carries most produce allowing for seasonal changes.

I think their greatest asset is the way they interact in such a warm way with us the public. Long may we be the recipients of their friendliness.

Jim Walsham, Belleleyhill Road, Ayr

AllUnderOneBanner row

In response to Mr David Bone’s letter July 17 issue.

I am sorry that Mr Bone appears to be offended at the sight of his country’s flag and thousands of people marching through Ayr to show the growing support there is for the return of selfdetermination to Scotland.

This is not an annual event in Ayr as described by Mr Bone but is part of the wider All Under One Banner marches and is a grassroots movement made up of people from all walks of life, all ages, all religions and all political parties who care about what is happening to their country.

We are not separatists but people who can see that the status quo is failing Scotland, our country is ignored and our representatives in Westminster are treated with nothing but contempt. We deserve better and if we can achieve this through independence then so be it. It is interesting that in Mr Bone’s opinion Scotland is in a poor state of affairs but he fails to mention the crisis happening in the rest of the UK under the control of Westminster.

He has also failed to mention the Tory Government that called a referendum to appease party infighting and the result of which Scotland is being taken out of the EU although 62% of us voted to remain. Scotland may be a small country but it is a country rich in resources that are the envy of other small independent countries throughout the world. Independence is normal.

The Union is failing, past it’s sell- by date and is dominated by the largest of the home nations. It is time to accept that things must change so that we can choose the kind of Scotland we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren.

Lesley Ross, Prestwick