Location! location! location!

What’s not to like about the ambitious plans for a “Madison Squayr Garden” facility in Ayr?

Well . . mmm . . the location at Newton shore . . . maybe?

One of the qualities of Madison Square Gardens was that it was built on what was then called . . . er . . . Madison Square.

Slap bang in the centre of New York’s Manhattan - and next to what was Penn Station - it had location, location, location in spades!

I appreciate a travel hub/rail link is all part of the masterplan – but I still question the subtle difference between a “good place for it” and “the right place for it”.

This page has campaigned – since it began! - for a facility like this.

Ayr is crying out for a multi-purpose venue that could host events from major sports fixtures to concerts and national conferences.

My pipe-dream was a site that saw The Odeon cinema and Parkhouse Street completely disappear and the new Ayr Arena taking up Parkhouse Street, the Matalan site and the railway sidings behind that.

But hey – what makes my pipedream better than anyone else’s?

The really good news is that people are thinking big for a change – and the big thinkers are all experienced professionals with a love of Ayr in their hearts.

I happen to think a town centre site would bring more footfall – attracting new businesses and supporting those badly in need of a boost.

But if the choice is Newton shore or nowhere – I’m in!

The SeeAYR team are to be congratulated and their vision supported.

After the May elections, they should be top of the guest list to first foot the new South Ayrshire Council.