WEWILL SAVE FLATS
Tories’ last-ditch pledge to halt blocks from demolition
The doomed high flats of Ayr could be saved by an eleventhhour election pledge.
Tory hopefuls in South Ayrshire claim they will reverse the move to bulldoze the iconic riverside towers if they are voted into office on May 5.
Martin Dowey, the party’s South Ayrshire Group leader, says he will start returning former residents to the ghost blocks on “day one”.
He said: “We’ve argued against this all along and will seek to address it from the minute we’re in office, should that be the case.”
The flats are currently scheduled to come down and be replaced by more than 90 new-build affordable homes.
Tory council hopefuls have pledged to save Ayr’s doomed High Flats – if they’re elected to office next month.
The party’s South Ayrshire leader, Martin Dowey, and his depute, Iain Campbell, are both bidding for re-election.
And they hope to sweep to power by preventing the iconic blocks from being bulldozed.
Only a handful of determined residents remain beside the River Ayr, with the fate of the high-rise buildings seemingly sealed.
But Mr Dowey claims his group will make their first order of business to halt any wrecking balls – and start moving people back into their homes.
He said: “We’ve been clear all along that there is no good reason for these flats to come down.
“We have repeatedly asked for the safety reasons that require perfectly good buildings to be knocked to the ground, and those reasons have never been forthcoming.
“Sadly, the flats stand as ghost towers now because the vast majority of people have been forced out.
“But we will put the buildings straight back into use should we take control next month.”
Demolition has been slowed by the presence of a giant phone mast on top of one tower – with telecoms firm EE’s contract at the site running until 2025.
The company is currently trying to relocate after being served with a notice to quit by South Ayrshire Council.
But that hold up has bought the flats vital breathing space through the election cycle, and the Tories say they could now
There is no reason for these flats to come down Martin Dowey
ride to the rescue.
Mr Dowey insists one of the three towers will be used for assisted-living accomodation with the other two blocks being offered up to help with the housing shortage.
He said: “There will be a lot of people ousted from their homes who would love to come back here, and they’d be welcome.
“There are iconic buildings in the town and the idea that they should be knocked down has been a nonsense from day one.”