Money talks on store U-turn

Feb 27 2009

WHAT a difference a year makes!

It was but a year ago that South Ayrshire Council vehemently indicated in this newspaper that planning approval would not be given for an airport car park or a supermarket on the site of the Centrum Arena. It must be remembered, in the words of SAC, that this land was gifted to the people of Prestwick and is for leisure development ONLY.

Now, as we find the Centrum razed to the ground, the council have done a full turn around and it is apparent that Sainsbury will receive the approval they requested to construct on the site.

The inept, spineless ‘empty suits’ within the corridors of Wellington Square cannot see past their own noses. Money talks and it seems they will bend every rule in the book for housing development or supermarkets such as Sainsbury.

I think we will all admit that the Centrum was not the most architecturally pleasing building to look at, but what we had was by far the best ice facility in the whole of Scotland and even if it was a ‘blot on the landscape’, the council should have reaffirmed their comments from a year ago and endeavoured to use the land for the intent it was gifted.

This facility attracted thousands from all over the UK on a weekly basis for the ice hockey and it was recognised as a Centre of Excellence for figure skating. So, if the Centrum was not viable to operate, SAC should be looking at a legacy that will benefit the residents today, tomorrow and years to come. What legacy are we now left with...another supermarket that is not required !

With all the controversy surrounding Pets Corner, Gaiety, Templeton House and the Centrum, this council are not the most pro-active and will not think ‘outside the box’. I look forward to the next local elections, where I can be more forward thinking than they are, and confidently place my vote elsewhere, in the hope that we can rid South Ayrshire of the pretentious, rule-bending council ‘leaders’.

Derek Peters

By email.