Fury as leisure proposals set to be approved
An Ayr community council has written to the Scottish Government complaining the council ‘doesn’t want the community to be heard’ over the £45m Ayr Leisure Centre.
Planning officials decided that there was no need for an environmental assessment ahead of considering the application for the centre.
Councillors on the South Ayrshire Council’s Regulatory Panel are expected to approve the plans today (Wednesday). Before the meeting, Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council has contacted the Scottish Planning directorate arguing the council should be obliged to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). And the group has also criticised the decision to hold the meeting of the Regulatory Panel online, when it has ‘sanctioned’ other public meetings and events it has participated in.
Norman McLean, community council chairman, wrote: “This is for a major Leisure Centre application within the town centre of Ayr at a cost of approximately £45m. We consider that government guidance has not been adhered to and should be examined.
“Very considerable disquiet has been raised by local townspeople regarding the process adopted by SAC with this application. This disquiet was exemplified by an online petition of 3500+ objections to the project which was dismissed by SAC as not complying with their protocol. As a major application of this magnitude is within, and will undoubtedly impact on the town centre of Ayr, we challenge their decision to dismiss an EIA.
“We are at a loss to understand what, if anything, would require such an analysis under this ruling.”
Mr McLean pointed out that the council could issue a ‘screening direction’ that would reverse this.
He added that he would ‘urge you to consider our request urgently due to the truncated timescale imposed by SAC’.
The letter then turns to public access to the meeting.
Mr McLean states that the application was lodged and a report compiled in around two-and-a-half months, which he argues is a short timescale for a project of this size.
“This undue haste,” he said, “has not allowed time to fully explore this major project. SAC further proposes to hold an online determination meeting contrary to current government guidelines.
“Public indoor meetings are permitted with the wearing of facemasks. SAC have sanctioned other public meetings within their buildings creating clear precedents.” He added that the community council saw this as ‘not in SAC’s interest in allowing the community’s voice to be heard.’
A council spokesman said: “The letter has been addressed to the Scottish Government and therefore they will respond to its contents.”
Objections to the plans have been dismissed as non-planning matters including the location, reduced sporting facilities, costs and inadequate consultation. Others, including the discovery of methane and carbon monoxide gases can be dealt with by conditions and building standard consent, according to planners.