South Ayrshire Council intended taking over green space in 1995.

Nov 13 2009 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

COUNCIL chiefs abandoned a plan to adopt greenery on private housing estates.

Papers uncovered by Councillor Philip Saxton reveal that the decision was taken almost 15 years ago, but never acted upon.

The news comes after South Ayrshire Council opted to stop maintaining 57 privately owned green areas.

And residents fear their housing estates could be plagued with overgrown greenery if the council don't make a U-turn.

Councillor Saxton has uncovered papers from a council meeting in 1995 stating the recommendation that "housing developers transfer title of open space and play areas to the district council at no cost, ensuring that the landscaping was to a standard which would enable it to be maintained thereafter by the council."

No further council papers on the matter can be found.

It is believed that the matter was simply lost or forgotten during the change over from Kyle and Carrick District Council to South Ayrshire Council the following year.

But it is clear that the council intended taking ownership of the green space sites.

The council decided in February this year to stop maintaining the areas.

Chiefs wrote to every landlord of the land but only one has agreed to take over the maintenance of the land - nine are disputing ownership and 47 cannot be traced.

Councillor Saxton is now working with residents in the Troon area to try and have the matter overturned.

His Labour party asked that the matter be put out to consultation earlier this year, but the plea was rejected.

The areas concerned include Meadow Green, which has been maintained by the council since 1968.

Campbell Drive and Queens Drive in Troon will also go without maintenance, despite being looked after by the council for more than a decade.

Councillor Saxton has also written to council chief Graham Peterkin to ask him to clarify the legal position.

Cllr Saxton believes that a "common practice" rule will apply. Since the council have accepted responsibility for the land for decades, they may have to continue that responsibility.

The sites in question can be checked at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/parks/private.aspx