New arrangements are to be put in place for rural residents in Barr and Ballantrae to dispose of additional household waste.

Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Rural Communities Committee, Councillor Paul Torrance said: “The Council has been concerned about the Civic Amenity Sites in Barr and Ballantrae for sometime, and has therefore decided to implement some changes.

“Both the sites are in remote situations and are unmanned, and this has resulted in some people illegally dumping items which should not be left there, and the Council then has to incur considerable additional expense disposing of them appropriately. Due to the type of waste being dumped there was an increased level of an outbreak of fire, which if it occurred could have injured members of the public or staff clearing the site. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has also shown concern for illegal trade waste deposits.

“The Council were reviewing the situation regarding the two civic amenity sites prior to setting the budget for financial year 2006/06, and although financial savings will be made by closing them, this was not the main reason for doing so.”

Residents are able to dispose of excess household waste free of charge at any Council Civic Amenity Site in South Ayrshire. For residents in and around Barr and Ballantrae the nearest sites are in Bridge Street, Girvan and at Seaton Street, Maybole.

An application may be made to the Council by a representative of a community group when community projects are ongoing for an amenity skip to be sited free of charge, in either of the villages, for a period of two to three days. Any community group who wish to obtain an application form should contact Council staff.

Each householder in South Ayrshire is entitled to five free uplifts of household waste per year, and can arrange for items to be removed by contacting Council staff on telephone number 08457 697520.

Anyone who requires further information about disposal of additional household waste should either contact Council staff or log onto the Council’s website at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/wastemanagement

March 2005