The winner of a competition organised by South Ayrshire Council’s Sustainable Development Team will now be pedalling in style on her brand new bicycle.

To highlight the work carried out by the Council’s Sustainable Development Team, and to make members of the public aware of the advice and assistance staff can provide, information on sustainability issues was published in the Ayrshire Post.

The item explained what sustainable development is, how it can safeguard and improve the environment, and gave examples of community groups who are working with the Council to bring about significant changes within their communities.

Readers had an opportunity to enter a competition that required them to answer three questions.

All the correct entries were collected together, placed into a container, and three lucky winners were then drawn out.

Mrs Evelyn Preston from Ayr was the overall winner, and was presented with a magnificent brand new hybrid bicycle.

Mrs M Hendrie from Troon, and Mr A Wrighton from Ayr were runners up, and have each received an environmental hamper packed with goodies such as a wind-up torch, wind-up radio, low energy light bulbs, a canvas bag and mugs.

Convener of the Council’s Community Safety Committee, Councillor Douglas Campbell presented Mrs Preston with her bicycle at the County Buildings.

Speaking about the competition he said: “It is great that so many people decided to enter the competition. The number of correct answers showed that people either already had a good knowledge of sustainability issues, or that they had taken the time to read the article and absorb the information.

“I hope that Mrs Preston will have many happy hours of cycling on her new bicycle.”

The first ever South Ayrshire Sustainability Forum was held in March 2005 within the County Buildings in Ayr, and over 80 people attended. The main aim of the conference was to invite representation from Young People, Business and Local Interest Groups, National Non-Governmental Bodies and the Council to ascertain their views on key sustainability issues at both the local and national level in order to develop a series of priority local initiatives.

Here are the competition questions and the correct answers:

How much of South Ayrshire’s electricity used in public buildings will come from renewable energy from April 2005?
100%.

What does LETS stand for?
Local Exchange Trading Scheme.

How many tonnes of waste in south Ayrshire have been diverted from landfill since February 2004?
10,000 tonnes.

Anyone who would like more information on sustainability in South Ayrshire should log on to the Council’s website at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/environment/sd or contact staff by telephone on 01292 612000, or alternatively e-mail staff at Sustainable.development@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.

After being presented with her prize by Councillor Douglas Campbell Mrs Evelyn Preston wasted no time in trying out her new bicycle.

May 2005