Public deliver message with Ayr march

Mar 6 2009

THE message was delivered loud and clear by the thousands who took to the streets of Ayr – enough is enough.

Saturday’s march was no political protest, but simply a demonstration by the people of South Ayrshire sick of cuts and fed up with being ignored.

Golfers and Pets Corner campaigners marched alongside children and their parents protesting over the closure of Girvan swimming pool.

And ardent supporters of the Gaiety theatre walked side by side with mums, dads and grannies, angry at the destruction of their community services.

“This has been an amazing show of unity by the people of South Ayrshire,” said march organiser Alec Clark.

“The message to the council is clear, they’ve gone too far and we’re not prepared to sit back and take it.”

The march, which was supported by the South Ayrshire Association of Community Councils, comes just weeks after the closure of Girvan swimming pool and the approval of a budget which axed Pets Corner, the Gaiety theatre and Dalmilling golf course amongst other services.

Mr Clark, who is chairman of Girvan Community Council, added: “The sheer number of people who turned out on this march says it all.

“Virtually every community in South Ayrshire has been affected by the cuts this council has imposed. They’ve gone too far and they need to start listening to the people.”

Agnes Steven from Friends of Pets’ Corner was among the marchers.

She said: “We’re sick of the cuts and we’re sick of being ignored.

“We need to set up a people’s council that will truly represent the community.

“We urgently need advice on how we can do this.”

Mike Hughes from Alloway was among the thousands angry at the constant cuts.

He said: “I’m an incomer to this community and all I’ve seen is cuts.

“They’ve taken away the Gaiety, Pets’ Corner and now the golf course. Pretty soon there will be nothing left.”

Gaiety theatre supporters turned out in droves to fly their banners, calling on a rethink of the decision to close it.

Ena Erskine from the Friends of the Gaiety said: “We are very disappointed by this decision and the march was a way of letting the council know that we are not willing to simply accept it.”

May McPherson marched alongside her granddaughter protesting over the closure of Girvan pool.

She pointed out: “It’s about time we started to question some of the decisions that this council has made.

“They closed the pool without any consideration for the community. Well we’ve had enough and we won’t take this lying down.”

And Peter Mason from Maybole Community Council insists that councillors must now take notice of the public discontent.

He added: “We’ve lost services in Maybole as well. We’ve also been asked to take responsibility for the swimming pool and golf course ourselves or the council will close them.

“I’ve never known the likes of this in South Ayrshire. If councillors don’t listen to the people they will live to regret it.”