Museum is a no brainer!

With the expiry date on our current council administration now little more that a handful of months – you might have thought they’d want to leave us with some kind of valedictory gift.

You know, something they can proudly show to the grandkids and say “Hey – I had a hand in making that possible!”. I’m talking about the proposed Museum of Ayrshire – an exciting project which would turn the now empty Ayr Grammar School into the town’s first proper museum facility. But instead of embracing a generational opportunity with open arms – South Ayrshire Council has chosen to turn its back. The issue was due to be discussed this week – but appears to have fallen off SAC’s agenda.

Here’s an opportunity to tell Ayrshire’s story to the world – and tell future Ayrshire generations of their history. The chronicling of agriculture, coal mining and fishing would probably fill a museum on their own.

The Museum of Ayrshire Project Group had two paths to chose from. The first, a Community Asset Transfer, would have been ideal. For reasons known only in the corridors of the County Buildings, that path has been blocked. The second route was to purchase the building – using a grant from the Scottish Land Fund. However, SLF funding is only granted to projects supported by their local authority. So far, South Ayrshire Council has withheld that support.Their official stance appears to be that Ayr already has an“accredited museum”at Rozelle.

Well, it might be accredited somewhere, but in a straw poll in my pub, not a single soul had ever visited it.

And eight out of ten said they’d never heard of it! The unofficial SAC position is that the it just wants shot of the property. A quick wad of dosh in the bank – which some property developers are already queuing up to provide. If they really want“best use”of the asset, why not rent it out to the museum people on a self-repairing lease? Fifty years at £20,000-a-year would net SAC a million – and they’d still own the property in 2072! A block of two apartment flats – or a museum that will stand as a community, educational and tourist asset for generations? It’s a no brainer for me.

And it should be the same for the councillors YOU elected. What can you do? Show your support on info@ museumofayrshire.org

Maybe, one day, you’ll take YOUR grandchildren to it.

And you’ll be able to tell them:“Hey – I had a hand in making that possible.”