News Archive - May 2006

Financial Support for Rural Communities
Members of South Ayrshire Council’s Rural Communities Committee have approved financial support totalling £8,000 for two rural community projects.
The Bigger Picture for Local Health Care
A booklet has been produced which sets out some suggestions for how elective (planned) care and rehabilitation services could be redesigned.
Compost Comes Home in South Ayrshire
When the new Troon Community Recycling Centre opens garden compost will be on sale - compost that was created from household garden waste previously collected in South Ayrshire.
Make-Over for Voluntary Park in Ayr
South Ayrshire Council is entering into a partnership agreement with the Voluntary Park Action Group to progress the development of a community garden at Voluntary Park at Glenmuir Place in Ayr. 
PPP Projects Go Before Planning Committee
South Ayrshire Council is one significant step closer to implementing a £73 million Public Private Partnership (PPP) Initiative to replace or improve a number of school buildings in South Ayrshire.
Warm Tributes apid to South Ayrshire's Top Cop
Glowing tributes were paid to a senior Strathclyde police officer when a civic reception, hosted by South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan, was held recently in his honour.
Successful Haul in Anti-Counterfeit Campaign
South Ayrshire Trading Standards Service this week seized a large quantity of alleged counterfeit and pornographic DVD’s from a man believed to have been offering them for sale around local businesses in Ayr. 
Ayr Concert Series is OK to get Funding for New Venue
Any concerns that funding might not be available from South Ayrshire Council to support the popular Ayr Concert Series if it is staged out-with Ayr have been dispelled.
Riding for the Disabled Arena Officially Opened
There were great celebrations when Lord Lieutenant Richard Henderson officially opened the Carrick Group Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) new arena at an event that coincided with the 25th anniversary of the founding of the group.
Pan Ayrshire Real Life Literacies Conference
A Pan Ayrshire Real Life Literacies Conference held in Ayr provided practitioners with an opportunity to learn and exchange best practice methods in adult literacy.  The Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Lifelong Learning Committee, Councillor Pam Paterson, opened the conference.
Keeping Food Hygiene Standards High
Councillor Bill McIntosh, Vice Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Community Safety Committee, presented certificates at a ceremony within the County Buildings in Ayr to some of the 32 people who successfully completed a Food Hygiene Training Course.
Petrol Scare Shuts Main Road through Coylton
Trading Standards Officers from South Ayrshire Council were called to an incident in Coylton on Friday evening when a householder reported smelling petrol fumes in his house.   Checks carried out by Officers indicated that there was an explosive atmosphere in the drainage system to which his house was linked.
Cycle, Walk, Run or Ride, on the Alloway to Burton Former Railway
Plans are underway for the old Alloway to Burton railway to be upgraded to form a cycle route and bridle way.  Funding of £40,000 given to South Ayrshire Council by Sustrans, a cycling charity, will be used for initial improvements.
Provost Sloan Presents 2006 Maclaurin Awards
South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan presented awards to young people whose work has been selected to feature in the 2007 Maclaurin Art Exhibition calendar at a ceremony held within the gallery.
Ayrshire Environmental Health 24 Hour Noise Helpline
A dedicated 24 hour Noise Helpline - 0800 73 10 4 10 has been officially launched, as part of an  Ayrshire wide approach to tackling domestic noise complaints at any time of the day or night. 
Update - Mainholm Decant
Members of South Ayrshire Council’s Lifelong Learning Committee have received a full update on the preparations for the decant of Mainholm Academy pupils and staff for the 2006/07 academic year.
Letting of School Premises
South Ayrshire Council inherited the current scheme for letting of school premises from Strathclyde Regional Council, a scheme that has remained almost unchanged since the late seventies.
Fit Ayrshire Babies
A group of babies and toddlers had two special guests at their workout class at  Wallacetown Nursery School when Councillor Pam Paterson, Convener of the Council’s Lifelong Learning Committee, and Councillor Robert Campbell joined in the fun.
Ayr Town Hall to have £1 Million Refurbishment
Up to £1 million is to be spent on the complete refurbishment of Ayr Town Hall, paid for from the Ayr Common Good Fund, in a move which should see the building re-instated as a prestigious location attracting civic pride.
Symington Hall for All
There were celebrations in Symington village when Councillor Hywel Davies, the Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Rural Communities Committee presented a cheque for £76,000 to John Nimmo who accepted it on behalf of Symington Community Projects Limited. 
New Owner for the Carrick Connector - Ring 'n' Ride
Ownership of the existing Carrick Connector Ring ‘n’ Ride bus, along with all contractual commitments, is to be transferred to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). 
Scottish Government Reporters' Findings on the South Ayrshire Local Plan Inquiry
South Ayrshire Council has received the Scottish Government Reporter’s findings on the South Ayrshire Local Plan Inquiry.
Breathing New Life into Lochside
Members of South Ayrshire Council’s Social Justice Committee are about to take a decision on a project that could lead to a phased programme of demolition and replacement of housing stock in the Lochside area of Ayr.
Council Tax Collection Level at all Time High
The level of Council tax collection in South Ayrshire has reached an all-time high – with 94.85% of the amount billed for the year which ended on March 31, 2006, being collected within the actual 12 months.
Managing Waste the Danish Way
Key decision makers from local authorities and representatives from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and the Scottish Government saw at first hand an array of integrated waste management facilities operating in Denmark during a study tour last week.
Burns an' a' that Festival - 2006 Keeping the Public Aware of Events Galore..... and the Efforts to Minimise Inconvenience
Final planning and preparations are well under way for the annual Burns an ’ a’ That Festival with numerous activities scheduled to take place in Ayr.
Dribble, Aim, Shoot and Score at Orangefield Drive
Michael Gibb, aged 15, from Prestwick and his friends dreamed of somewhere safe to practice their basketball manoeuvres, and their dream has come true.
Council Chief and Staff Join in Major Incident Exercise
The Chief Executive of South Ayrshire Council Tom Cairns and a number of senior officers from the Council have taken part in a major incident exercise as part of a national counter terrorism strategy.
European Delegates Visit South Ayrshire for Sustainability Forum Conference 2006
The South Ayrshire Sustainability Forum conference 2006 was held in the County Buildings in Ayr and officially opened by Councillor Hugh Hunter, the Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Sustainability Forum.  The theme for the conference was  ‘Sustainable Design and Construction’.

Community Treatment & Rehabilitation Service (Substance Misuse)
Turning Point Scotland are a national not for profit organisation offering support and opportunity to clients with substance-misuse issues, learning disabilities, mental health issues and other issues which may lead to social exclusion.  

Pupil Power in South Ayrshire
To mark South Ayrshire Council ’s decision  to establish a Windfarm Community Benefit Funding protocol, Scottish Power Renewables presented Solar Science Sets, known as ‘S Cube’, at a ceremony within Girvan Academy.