Council out of step with public

After the decline in Ayr under the SNP- led council and a High Street that has become more feral than retail what is South Ayrshire Council planning to do as, say, a two- year plan?

The world economy had already slowed by the start of 2020, the virus has now put the brakes on from the other direction inside out and we are all forced to look at our locality whether we like it or not.

Some of us do like it and do it naturally and others will be within a small radius for the first time in a very long time.

Within the radius of the centre of Ayr, say taking Wellington Square, bus station, Newmarket Street, the old bridge and South Harbour Street with the Town Hall in the middle as a rough circle all the ingredients are there except the input from the council. The fire at the bottom of the High Street last weekend, right opposite the site where the council planned new buildings for itself, has put the World of Art out of business from the damage but fortunately not stopped the butcher trading. M& S just a few metres away is open with a really wonderful line of vintage style clothes ready for spring/ summer now on sale as unlikely much of that will shift off rails this year. But the public mood is looking for something more stable and clothes that go back to a pre- tech era and the sight of a butcher’s counter open for business does highlight the feeling in Ayr that the council is out of step with both public opinion and civic duty.

Shops open, try and close again, and all around are empty buildings and more drug addicts, street alcoholics and beggars per five metres than probably most other places in Scotland, or the UK.

The pubs and cafes will soon be open again and the wheels will be rolling but that is us citizens going out to whichever pub or cafe we go to, and beyond that is a vacuum of civic responsibility. Would it be too complicated to open a community centre in Ayr, a real community centre?

Not a drop- in for overflow social work or junkies making a lot of noise and disruption and wanting a free tea, or homeless people wanting a pleasant place for the day but a real community centre for young and old alike.

The community room at Tesco Extra for group meetings shows the big retailers have some sense of civic need but I’m sure it isn’t just me who feels the real civic responsibility is hugely lacking. A community centre where elderly folk could meet and with drinks and simple meals sold throughout the day and young folk could go for maybe homework groups or to participate in other groups or events put on under the safe umbrella of a dedicated community centre? Also in central Ayr, within 800m or so of New Bridge Street/ High Street/ Sandgate there would be a good case made for a 24- hour medical centre/ walk in advice centre. Such a place would relieve pressure off police and ambulance and probably social work who are busy all night and would likely ease the tension and lack of community cohesion in the centre of Ayr. Could South Ayrshire Council see the possibility of pushing for the return of some fishing rights to Ayr with landed catch sold in, of course, the Fish Cross where most shops are vacant? Such simple links are always a big visitor draw to a coastal site and with the availability of historic buildings within that central circle it could not be too difficult to also create an Ayr Historic Centre combining the Tourist Centre with perhaps an exhibition space as well for different aspects of regional craft, food production, history and archaeology?

And while on the subject, with the climate not so great for outdoor markets in winter, there are two very large indoor shopping malls, hardly used and again with many vacant shops. Is the council thinking about future use for these? A December Christmas Market in either one would be undercover, near transport, etc, etc. The High Street is long and online buying has decimated all high streets but in Ayr with the historic centre so compromised at the moment but still standing, surely the

Council can come up with something to ensure Ayr comes out of 2020 well and on into the decade?

Anne Milligan

New Bridge Street, Ayr