Linda’s community toilet vow if elected
A former miltary defence police officer passionate about bringing face-to-face services back to Troon is standing in the upcoming council election.
Linda Lunan is standing as an independent in South Ayrshire Council’s May election, representing her home town of Troon.
The 61-year-old’s plans would see a town centre hub for face-to-face contact for disability support, to pay fines, citizens advice and workshops, and the building of a community toilet, using local suppliers, to boost tourism.
She has lived in the seaside town for the last 10 years, with her science writer husband Duncan, who grew up there, and has actively campaigned for better access to the beachfront for those with disabilities under Seashore - Access For All (S-AFA). Linda has experience working in the Ministry of Defence as a Police Officer; working in contracts, pensions, accounts and Air Freight; and running a dairy farm in the Falkland Islands.
She has also been a volunteer in the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, SOVA Wales, NSPCC Wales, Shelter Prestwick, and a director in astronomy and spaceflight educational charities.
Linda said: “We used to have a council office where you could go pay things face-to-face, and now it’s gone online.
“People tend to forget that we are a retirement town, and there’s a lot of people who would prefer a more face-to-face approach. It’d be a good idea to have a hub, where people could pop out, go and find answers to their problems and find a bit of support. It’s just having everything to hand in the one place.”
If elected, Linda would pursue her community toilet idea, which would use local craftsmen to show off their building skills, with all involved featuring on a plaque, in the hope of prompting future business.
She said: “When it’s free toilets, people like the idea that it’s old fashioned sinks with real towels, real soap, and a volunteer warden- like the old days- where they’d chat.
Linda hopes being an independent candidate and not tied to‘party politics’ would allow her to solely focus on community issues.
She added:“I can focus on the individual and work with them without thinking‘oh, this might fall into a bit of a problem with my party’s politics’.
“And being a candidate with a disability, I also have that added bit where I can point people towards support systems which I use, and they might bring me extra knowledge which I could expand on.”
Linda is interested in hearing from the Troon Ward what their concerns are. She can be contacted on: mrslindalunan@ gmail.com or visit her website: www. lindalunan.com