Put the brakes on the ‘ mental’ plans
In four decades of international travel, it’s been my pleasure to whip my socks off and plant my size 10s in the frothing foam at four of the finest beaches in the world.
These would be Copacabana, Rio De Janerio, Brazil, Bondi Beach, Sydney Australia, Malibu Beach, Los Angeles County, California, USA and Seafield shore.
I want to ask you a question
- which one of the above would consider closing off all motorised access to its beautiful beach front? Just to help you out . . . here’s a couple of clues.
The Brazilians aren’t that bonkers, the Californians aren’t that crazy and the Australians aren’t that asinine.
So yes, step forward South Ayrshire Council! And when the very intelligent leading Conservative councillor dredges the subterranean depths of his vocabulary – and decides “absolutely mental” is the most appropriate wording to describe the proposal – you can safely bet it is.
Wasn’t it South Ayrshire Council who funded and helped create the single biggest one- day seafront attraction in the whole of the UK – the Scottish International Air Show? Then stopped funding it?
This latest aberration has apparently sprung from some bizarre desire to “make it easier for people to stay apart”.
Well - I get that bit.
Ban cars from Ayr’s esplanade
- and tens if not hundreds of thousands of people will stay apart. Stay apart from visiting Ayr’s esplanade!
Cars aren’t the real problem here – the bigger issue is how to make the best use of South Ayrshire’s principal natural asset.
Places like Falkirk, Perth and yes – even Kilmarnock – could win the lottery every week for a thousand years and still not recreate the scenery and seaside that South Ayrshire boasts from Troon to Turnberry and beyond.
South Ayrshire Council’s conundrum with Ayr is how to maximise the beach as an attraction for locals and visitors – without turning it into a Blackpool or blighting the wide open spaces that are enshrined as Common Good land.
The first step, for me anyway, would be to acknowledge and embrace the basic tenet that the real attraction is the sand, sea and scenery that Ayr’s beach offers. And we’ve got all three – almost literally – in spadefuls!
The second step is to add ancillary facilities to increase the visitor experience. These could include car parking, hospitality and amusements as well as amenities like cycle paths and children’s play areas. It’s not rocket science but it is an urban development science.
And its given a new twist by the current Covid restrictions that may be in place for some time.
Any beach improvement plans would have to take into account a whole host of factors – not least that visitor numbers are hugely seasonal and weather dependent.
Permanent facilities might have to give way to the temporary – a summer tented village for example, offering limited hospitality as well as arts and crafts stalls for visitors to browse. There could be affordable licences and permits for food trucks or ice cream vendors.
Car parking could be increased - and made free throughout South Ayrshire every weekend.
And I support SAC’s idea of the cycle path. With some path widening along part of the River Doon, Ayr could boast a fabulous route that stretched from the old Ayr Pavilion building to Doonfoot Road at Doonfoot Stores.
A second link could parallel
Doonfoot Road on the Belleisle/ Seafield side all the way to Seafield Road – then down past Seafield Stores to rejoin the first section. Why not?
The land is there . . . and there’s £ 510,000 of grant funding available to get it started.
If successful – simple underpasses could be added to connect the Low Green – Blackburn Road – Seafield Drive stretches and make the route to Doonfoot . Road one continuous, traffic free cycle path.
At the moment, we’re stuck with the ‘ absolutely mental’.
And there’s little chance of the boffins that came up with this ‘ car ban’ being ‘ carried away’ anytime soon!