Give our voters what they want
South Ayrshire Council setting their sights on Common Good land continues this week.
This time, the battleground moves from Girvan’s Victory Park to the very heartland of our county town – Ayr’s seaside Esplanade.
However this time – unlike the Girvan outrage – if SAC do their job properly, openly and democratically – they might turn this battle into a welcome armistice. The issue with Girvan’s Victory Park – Common Good land – was that it’s proposed new use as a 3G football pitch was never materially for the“common good”at all.
The percentage of locals who might ever want to sprint down the wing of an all-weather pitch could be counted on the fingers of one hand. On top of the incontrovertible fact that the majority of locals didn’t want it there – the Victory Park pitch should have been red-carded before it even left the dressing room. For Ayr’s Esplanade though – the . . . er . . . goalposts have strategically moved.
The plans are for a landscaped area for leisure at the old“putting green”site and an“events”area at the gardens within the St Germain-en-Laye square. Will both these developments be an enhancement of Common Good land? Personally, I think they will. Will both these developments be materially for the“common good”of the people of Ayr? Personally – same answer as above. Will both these developments get the public consultation approval that SAC must legally“regard”before taking the developments for a sheriff’s consent? Personally – I don’t see why not. But by the same notion of fairness – without public approval – SAC shouldn’t be touching a single blade of common good grass. So, here’s a novel approach to“consultation”.
Why don’t our 28 elected members get themselves a pen and a clipboard – and go out there and“consult”. Talk to visitors on the Esplanade and show them the plans. Stop locals on our main streets and canvass their opinion. Knock on some doors at Cromwell Road, Charlotte Street and Queen’s Terrace and gauge how these householders feel. It’s not rocket science. Coupled with reports from Community Councils and public returns – SAC should be left in no doubt if these developments are what their voters want. It’s cheaper than wasting a proposed £3500 on taking legal advice on“appropriation”. If the public give their go ahead – then go ahead. If they don’t – then you don’t. It’s called democracy.
And who wouldn’t vote for that?