South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership has launched a new pilot initiative  in Ayr Town Centre to make it a safer and more pleasant place to enjoy a night out.

The SafeAyr Initiative, which runs for six weeks from 16 June, includes the introduction of taxi marshals for better management of taxi ranks, road closures, toilet facilities, a mobile police office, extra high profile policing, public information campaigns and even emptying of the rubbish bins.

The initiative involves a multi-agency approach to keeping the streets safe and clean, and involves Strathclyde Police, South Ayrshire Council, local licensees, shopkeepers, taxis and private hire operators, in conjunction with the SaferScotland Violence Reduction campaign.

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan was delighted to see for herself the initiative being launched.   Since taking office, Provost Sloan has personally enthusiastically championed for improvements to take place within South Ayrshire  - and Ayr in particular – calling for interest, involvement and investment in Civic Pride.

Speaking about the SafeAyr Initiative,  Provost Sloan said:  “I have been delighted to see what has been arranged for the pilot scheme.

“I appreciate the preparation and planning that has been undertaken by the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership, and the obvious wholehearted co-operation by partners, and in particular Strathclyde Police and my own Council.  I also congratulate the local licensees, shopkeepers, taxis and private hire operators who all appear to be enthusiastic about what is taking place.

“I am particularly pleased to see that the Community Safety Partnership has developed some of the ideas that I suggested, including the provision of additional toilet facilities, and extra rubbish bin clearance.”

South Ayrshire has always been a safe and pleasant place to live, work and socialise.  The area has a low crime rate compared to other areas in Ayrshire, particularly in relation to serious and violent crimes.

Ayr town centre remains one of the safest places for people to enjoy the pubs, clubs and restaurants. The vast majority of people come to enjoy themselves, with only the very small minority being anti-social in their behaviour.   The aim of the “SafeAyr” Initiative is to ensure the town centre area is an even safer and more pleasant place to enjoy a night out. 

Revellers can look forward to a range of measures designed to make life more pleasant and safe:

Taxi Marshals are being employed to help direct people to the appropriate taxi and private hire queues and also to help and advise people on the dos and don’ts of using taxis and private hires. 
During the pilot project, traffic restrictions will be in place to close the area around Boswell Park, Ayr,  every Friday and Saturday evening between midnight and 0400hrs.  Access will be restricted to taxis, private hires and emergency vehicles, effectively making the area a pedestrian precinct. Taxi ranks will be coned off earlier in the evening to stop illegal parking.

An environmental ‘clean-up’ will involve the emptying of bins in advance of pub and club opening times, which will remove the possibility of bottles and other items being used as weapons. 

Toilet facilities (portaloos) will be installed in Boswell Street Car Park.

A mobile police office will be in Boswell Street Car Park, staffed by two police officers who will be on hand to deal with any issues that may arise.

A public awareness campaign, involving posters and cards, will target schools, youth groups, and colleges, informing them of the Pilot Initiative.  Dialogue Youth will distribute information across Ayrshire, and information will be placed across the town centre in bus shelters.

A high visibility police presence will be in the town centre area throughout the evening to deal with incidents and provide public reassurance.

Inspector Bob Smith from Strathclyde Police, who is Chair of the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership Violence Reduction Group said:  “Ayr has a thriving evening economy, which attracts people from all over Ayrshire and the west of Scotland, who want to enjoy the pubs, clubs and restaurants in the area. 

“The town centre area is a safe place to enjoy all of these activities and the aim of the partnership is to make the town centre even safer and more enjoyable for everyone.  The measures we have put in place will enhance the already robust town centre policing plan and will provide reassurance to the public, reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour and ensure that revellers get home quickly and safely at the end of their night.

“The “SafeAyr” Initiative is a fine example of many agencies working together to make our community better.”

Councillor Hugh Hunter, the Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Community Safety Committee said: “People come from all over South Ayrshire and beyond at the weekends to enjoy socialising with their friends.  The majority of these people behave impeccably, but unfortunately a small number of people get involved in incidents of disorder or act inappropriately.  This initiative is a prime example of what can be achieved when agencies work in tandem.”

Councillor Douglas Campbell>, Chair of the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership said:  “This initiative is taking a partnership approach to make Ayr town centre an even safer place to enjoy a night out.  Providing taxi marshals, additional toilet facilities, a mobile police office and other measures will hopefully prevent incidents taking place when premises close and people are trying to make their way home.” 

June 2006