High flats questions answered

South Ayrshire Council has answered questions on the future of the few remaining tenants of the three properties at Riverside Place in Ayr.

This included confirmation that they are in advanced talks to relocate the telecommunications mast installed on the top of one of the high flats. The council had previously signed a contract that would have seen the mast in place until 2025.

The Post reported last week that the council was accused of ‘jumping the gun’ as it agreed to rush through the £1.9m demolition of Ayr’s high flats, despite the fact that residents still remain in their homes.

The council say they are not looking to serve eviction notices on the remaining tenants who are yet to agree to new accommodation.

The council also defended the push to approve work on major projects ahead of May’s upcoming local elections.

Here is our questions and answers from the council.

Q: Have all the residents agreed to new tenancies elsewhere?

A: The vast majority of residents have accepted new tenancies.

Work is ongoing by officers to identify alternative properties and discuss housing options with the handful of remaining residents.

Q: Will eviction notices be served? If so, what timescale?

A: No notices have been served by the Council, our focus is to continue working with the very small number of remaining residents to identify suitable alternative accommodation.

Q: How many residents who have moved to other council properties are in a higher Council Tax band and given many have not moved out through choice, has the council considered waiving the difference between the council tax they paid while living at Riverside Place and their new homes?

A: Information on the council tax bands has not been collated for households that have moved.

However, as part of the package of compensation provided by the Council, each household who has moved has received the statutory Home Loss Payment of £1500.

In addition, the costs associated with relocation expenses including removals, provision of new floor coverings, blinds, decoration and any other reasonable expenses have been met by the Council.’

Q: Has the council come to an arrangement regarding the telecommunications mast on one of the buildings?

A: We are finalising the agreements for an early termination of the existing agreement.

Q: Is there any particular reason why the demolition work is being fast-tracked if there are still residents in the building?

A:The opportunity for early works allows the project to continue to be progressed and new houses on the site to be delivered as quickly as possible.

This approach is used on many projects.