Ayr Town Centre is set to undergo a major "freshen up" in a bid to revitalise the town and ensure its place as a major shopping and tourism attraction for the west of Scotland.

South Ayrshire Council is launching a "Spring Project" with a range of actions planned to spruce up the town including:

• Reinstatement of hanging baskets to traditionally identified areas
• Planting of spring bedding plants
• Increased street cleaning and litter collection
• Chewing gum removal
• Street and roadway washing over busy weekends

And in a move that is expected to be met with approval by townspeople who complained about its construction - a brick and glass wall built in the town's High Street last year is to be removed and replaced by railings designed to match those already existing.

Approval for the "Spring Project" was given at a meeting of the Council's Policy and Resources Convener and Vice-Convener's Sub Committee which also authorised funding of £40,000 for the initiative.

And it is planned that the range of activities will soon be underway to ensure a revitalised town particularly in support of the onset of the 2006 tourist season and the opening of the new multi-million pound Ayr Central shopping mall.

After the meeting, a delighted South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan said: "This is great news. A variety of circumstances in recent years have clearly resulted in some visual deterioration to Ayr Town Centre.

"I personally felt that it had reached an unacceptable level, and that is why I have chosen to personally campaign for a renaissance of the town centre.

"Last year I was particularly disappointed when hanging flower baskets were withdrawn from the town centre, and I know many visitors and townspeople alike felt the same way. The main shopping streets did not look as bright and welcoming as they would have with floral displays.

"One of the first things I did when I became Provost was to pledge that I would bring back the hanging baskets, so I really am pleased with the decision that has been taken. "

On a more general note, Provost Sloan added: "I am delighted to say that I have the full support of the new Administration of South Ayrshire in placing the restoration of civic pride in the town as one our immediate aims and objectives.

"After all, tourism is considered to be the largest employment sector in South Ayrshire and is, as such, a major economic driver for the area. The Council has always sought to work to safeguard this employment sector and also to seek to support its economic development potential, whenever possible."

The new Ayr Central shopping mall, with big names including Next and Debenhams, is scheduled to open in March, and it is anticipated that shopping in Ayr will be rejuvenated, consequently attracting thousands of traditional and new visitors to the town.

Before agreeing to the Spring Project, the committee was told of the extensive programme of support that has been developed by officers of the Council to "re-establish the aesthetic pleasure of visiting Ayr, assist the Ayr Central Mall investors in their efforts to bring new visitors to the town and recreate a more complete, enjoyable day out for our visitors."

The committee was also made aware that a reassessment of the current provision of public toilets in Ayr Town Centre is in the final stages of completion and is particularly being carried out in the light of the anticipated increase of visitor numbers attending the Ayr Central shops.

The period of the "Spring Project" is scheduled to run until May 31, and the committee noted that appropriate resource support would be required to be put in place, or redirected, if it is intended that the level of activity is to continue after then.

February 2006