£2.5m a year is a waste of tax payers’ money

I suspect it’s going to take a new South Ayrshire Council to make a final, fiscal judgement on the cost of old one.

But one thing’s for sure – it’s going to look like a telephone number.

This page has already touched on the cost of the scaffolding at Ayr Station Hotel.

If the true figure really is £60,000 per month – then the tab must be getting close to the £2 million mark . . . and counting.

Way back, I was told SAC had actually purchased the scaffolding – and that made sense.

No matter what the future held for the building, the scaffolding could then be leased back to the people, refurbishing it . . . or demolishing it.

And probably sold on for a tidy profit after that! “Wow – that’s incredibly clever of SAC”, I thought at the time, “I’ve underestimated these people”.

Of course . . . I hadn’t. But what is the current cost of the lost rental and rates income at the Riverside Place flats? Given a basic fortnightly charge of say, £150, over 24 chargeable fortnights – that’s £3600 a year.

Over the 230 properties – that’s over £800,000 in lost income annually.

And what is the lost income from lost rates at the Arran Mall and Dalblair Arcade? I asked a local professional to calculate a ball park figure – and he came up with £700,000.

Between the flats, the lost malls and the scaffolding – we’re looking at £2.5 million a year. How will they ever get that back?

The scaffolding costs are a can of worms that will end up being settled by a man in a wig in Edinburgh.

But it will still cost SAC dearly. The only other way of recouping funds is an increase in rents, rates, council tax and hiked council services.

And if any electioneering council candidate – from any party – tells you otherwise?

Well, at least try and shut the door on them politely.