Keeping gate hours
Owners of the Lorne Arcade in Ayr have this week defended their decision to try to gate-off the site outwith trading hours.
The Wood Property Group Ltd said that the levels of mess, dog fouling, vagrancy and general anti-social behaviour at night is now at “unacceptable levels” and their “key priority” is to address it.
And their bid to try to install security gates at both sides of the thoroughfare is ‘needed’ in order to “prioritise the properties and shops” contained within the arcade.
The firm, who are currently embarking on an ambitious sixfigure makeover at the arcade, also claim that access through the site is “not public” and there is “no asserted right of way through the arcade.”
The Post can reveal that the Wood Property Group Ltd has lodged plans in a bid to install aluminium gates at both ends of the Lorne Arcade.
The gates at each end would come down outwith trading hours, meaning members of the public will not be able to access the shortcut.
As a result, if someone wanted to walk from the High Street to Arthur Street, outwith trading hours, they would be forced to negotiate the remainder of High Street, turn into Hope Street, turn left into Newmarket Street, negotiate the length of
Newmarket Street, turn left into Sandgate, negotiate the length of Sandgate, turn left into Boswell Park, negotiate the length of Boswell Park, before turning left into Arthur Street.
It means that a walk that would normally take seconds to complete could take as much as 20 minutes.
There is an alternative route via Carrick Street but this too adds minutes onto journeys.
Agents in the proposals are Pearson Planning, Chartered Surveyors, on behalf of the Lorne Arcade owners.
They are seeking ‘alterations’ to the shopping arcade entrances and their proposals are currently listed as ‘pending consideration’ on South Ayrshire Council’s online planning portal.
In a social media post the Wood Property Group said: “To shed clarity on this matter, the access is not public and there is no asserted right of way through the arcade building nor is it provided for in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act.
“The application meets the objective of the South Ayrshire Local Development Plan strategic policy 1 and policy 14 of the National Planning Framework in terms of quality of place.
“The levels of mess, dog fouling, vagrancy and general anti social behaviour later at night is now at unacceptable levels and as such protecting the property and shops is a key priority.
“Access from Carrick Street and Newmarket Street remain available 24/7.”
Their post continues: “If it was public then of course the responsibility and costs for the cleaning, lighting and CCTV would be down to South Ayrshire Council but that is not the case.
“We are delighted to invest in Lorne Arcade and support the existing retailers and welcome new local businesses to the town.”
Their plans are already facing opposition.
Kenny Macleod, of South Beach Road, said in his objection: “I wish to object to this application on the grounds that it is a public right of way between Ayr High Street and Arthur Street.
“The applicant intends to restrict this outside normal trading hours with locked shutters/gates at either end, although the east barrier will be some distance into the Arcade.
“Originally this was a pend to the buildings beyond and has been an arcade from approximately 1910, when I believe it was first named Lorne Arcade and been used by the public for approximately 120 years.
“It appears on Ordnance Survey maps as an arcade from 1937 and I have personally used it over the past 40 years, as have many other members of the public.”
But one existing trader within the arcade itself, is pleased with the proposals.
Kahraman Canturk, from Forum Phones, said: “We rent a shop within the Lorne Arcade. We are in support of the application to install security shutters and believe this will help protect our business and reduce the anti social behaviour within the arcade.
“We are constantly having to clean up litter, dog mess, vomit and other substances from the front of our shop.
“People use the arcade as a toilet when shops are closed.
“We have had our door smashed in the past and have had to call the police due to people in the arcade at night. The shutters will help all the businesses and improve the area.”
A decision on the proposals is expected next month.