Watchdog to probe actions in South Ayrshire

Mar 6 2009

COUNCILLORS could face a grilling from a national watchdog as they lurch deeper into crisis.

South Ayrshire chiefs are being reported to the Public Services Ombudsman by furious MP Brian Donohoe.

He reckons the council are “riding roughshod” over communities and need to be stopped.

And he wants the public to pen letters of complaint to the ombudsman in a bid to get justice.

Mr Donohoe insisted: “This council simply aren’t listening and Saturday’s protest march proved the people aren’t prepared to take it anymore.

“I’m looking for the ombudsman to step in and hopefully we can start saving some of our key services.

“But we need to act quickly before they start closing.”

Mr Donohoe, the MP for Central Ayrshire, added: “The only people who should be made redundant are the councillors who took this decision.

“What we need now is the ombudsman to act quickly before our services start to close for good.

“South Ayrshire Council have failed in their statutory obligation to serve the people who elected them – and it can’t be allowed to continue.”

A spokesperson for the ombudsman confirmed: “If a council is not delivering its services or stands accused of maladministration then that’s something we have to investigate.

“We’ll look into any complaints we receive.”