Listen to the people CROSSWORD

Following, the Post edition of June 2, I would like to make a response to SAC’s Program: Whitewash - Spin and Deny. SAC’s new not so ‘green’ 3g pitch dirty washing cycle.

The consultation vote where 57 per cent were against and 42 per cent were for. This omission is conveniently not mentioned in the SAC letters of last week and where natural justice was denied. SAC’s contempt of the public’s view stooped to psycho analysing every objectors comment in an attempt to overturn this vote and when this was not possible decided to ignore it anyway, a further level down on the contempt scale. It seems to me that the issue of continued non-respect of public consultations, the manipulation by loaded questions, non access to online council meetings or simply the lack of any real debate is now the adopted MO of SAC where all trust and credibility for any of its consultations is at an all time low. This includes the omission of, ‘The Scottish Community Empowerment legislation 2015’ from within the Caves of the petition. As a result it was never directly ruled over by the sheriff and by a lack of public involvement which was a great loss to the law itself. It still needs refining in the interpretations or additions of more of the key words and from case studies, so effectively forcing public withdrawal can’t be seen as the way forward and hopefully someone in the Scottish legal system or Parliament will see it as such and do something about it. Action is urgently required from our new MSPs. So rather than ruling over merely leisure for leisure and no change of ownership, a more stark black and white interpretation, this more updated law is designed to fit more the differing scenarios and is specifically written to improve transparency and encourage community participation where a broad interpretation will likely be used in favour of the community and the general public and the conduct and information provided by the consultation process analysed to protect against unscrupulous councils procuring common good land against the public’s wishes.

Stamp on the public and they will bite back. Bob Shields’ piece on the 3g pitch in Girvan giving appropriate scorn to SAC councillors and lawyers alike and a true reflection in what is going on in ‘Castle Greyskull’ daily from reports.

With these credentials and as stated in the petition, views of local councillors are important, is it no wonder that SAC stumbles from one bad decision to the next.

SAC discounted all other options to arrive at Victory Park bar one which still exists had they engaged with knowledgeable residents and experts and not to solely rely on a councillor’s local knowledge. This knowledge was first put to the test when the decision was to place the 3g pitch close to the Pavilion until it was pointed out by residents opposite that is where the local annual show takes place and it was they who suggested the present water logged area on the NW edge. SAC patting themselves on the back and professing to have listened were not now able to extend their new found attribute to listening again to the issues relating to this present position and decided instead to embellish the location with; it will be hidden by the trees, cure the flooding and is not used, as evidence which exists in their petition. Any farmer will tell you, you don’t need a 3g pitch to do that and normal field drains would be sufficient having already been ignored for years.

Place then for another temporary grass pitch or other, preserving the valued open space by siting the 3g pitch in the most sensible place, in school grounds. Victory Park is an open space, a welcome amenity and having an enviable idyllic setting, an oasis, a cauldron surrounded by neat white bungalows, absolutely stunning. Who is to say by the way, that the flooding isn’t welcomed, and is used already by wildlife to drink, bathe and as a food source? It is a most comforting sight to see 100 or more in a collective session.

It could become a small pond, giving pleasure to many- if the vision is there.

Here again local knowledge is invaluable when it is pointed out that the canopy of the trees is much higher than the living room windows of the bungalows across the street. It is not a good idea to place a 3g pitch close to trees. 3g pitches should be placed close to monitoring facilities like schools or clubs where there is readily available; security cameras, toilets, changing facilities, a person in charge, tarmac or paved pathways, first aid facilities and not so remote as in this case that school children can’t reach it and back in one PE lesson where the petition states there should be regard for schools, really. Surely that doesn’t require knowledge but just common sense? Did SAC inform local residents to expect 210 journeys of grass, earth and crushed stone in from 40 tonne lorries to churn and choke the already less than well maintained streets. There is nothing ‘green’ in a 3g pitch. Oh and while I’m here ‘all weather’ really, it’s a myth, you wouldn’t play usually in pouring rain, wind, frost, cold and snow knocking out more than just a few days and, of course, when it is locked.

Nothing warrants it over an extra temporary grass pitch, (can be used for other activities by easily erasing the white lines), it could be then rotated and made well drained. I fully expect these pitches to fall into disrepair once the guarantee runs out and the maintenance and disposal and replacement of carpeting features in the cost to councils. Who then is going to remove it?At least if it’s in schools grounds it will be demolished along with the school when it is built like others on the outskirts of town. Is there room for a white elephant in the park where successful structured football is already available at Hamilton Park and for full pitch venues? Preserve your

valued park for anything that is of a temporary nature and easily changed for other activities if the need arises. Thus giving all inhabitants the right to use any part of the park and not be restricted to one form of activity including just being in its presence by a permanent structure. Part of the law I would like to see adopted. Does it really need to be full sized, I see most kids use it across the way and around goal mouths?

Andrew Russell, Ayr

Across

6. Surprise (7)

7. Hard-wearing fabric (5)

9. Urbane (5)

10. University department (7)

12. Holding sway (11)

14. Obsequious (11)

18. Card game (7)

19. Adhere (5)

21. Timepiece (5)

22. Shade of red (7)

Down

1. Robust (5)

2. Cowardly (6)

3. Beer (3)

4. Outcome (6)

5. French wind (7)

8. Spear (7)

11. Clearness (7)

13. Long-lasting (7)

15. Posture (6)

16. Essential character (6)

17. Treaded fastener (5)

20. Perform (3)

Last week’s solution

Across: 1 Quarantine; 7 Raise; 8 Sharpen; 10 Cherubic; 11 Tilt; 13 Crafty; 15 Mellow; 17 Orgy; 18 Composer; 21 Salient; 22 Trash; 23 Friendship.

Down: 1 Quite; 2 Adequate; 3 Assail; 4 Thaw; 5 Nuptial; 6 Precocious; 9 Noteworthy; 12 Despatch; 14 Angular; 16 Sorted; 19 Scamp; 20 Fete.

There was quite a sensational drop in the prices of early Ayrshire potatoes , sales of which took place at Mr Forbes’s farm, Jameston, South Ayrshire.

The lots sold comprised crops on Morriston, Jameston and Warren farms.

At Morriston sale the average price secured per acre for 179 acres was £47, a drop this year of £53.

Jameston averaged £60, against £125 last year, while Warren bid £63, against the £142 paid the previous year.