Follow The Ayr-Ways And The Pocket Map

South Ayrshire Council Depute Provost Mary Kilpatrick officially launched the Ayr-Ways signage system at Carnegie Library.

Carnegie Library in Ayr and the town centre echoed with the sound of a Town Crier at the dual launch of Ayr’s new distinctive black and gold Ayr-Ways signage system of mapping and information points in Ayr town centre and FREE pocket sized map. These will both guide new residents and visitors to Ayr to places of interest and make sure they see the best that Ayr has to offer.

The Ayr-Way signage combines colourful mapping, photographs and text that together highlight Ayr’s past and the facilities available in the town. Although Ayr town centre is relatively small, with lots of interesting streets, visitors can become disorientated and miss some of the best parts. These include the High Street, Sandgate and the Citadel that have many buildings of architectural interest, plus the River Ayr, the seafront and Low Green all with exciting stories to tell of Ayr’s past. The Ayr-Ways storyboards are on display at Carnegie Library until 19 May 2008.

Speaking at the launch South Ayrshire Council’s Depute Provost, Mary Kilpatrick said: “People who know Ayr well have no trouble find their way around Ayr town centre easy and getting to our beautiful beach. Ayr’s medieval street layout makes this a little more difficult for visitors. The new Ayr-Ways signs and the free pocket map will make it easier for visitors to explore and make sure that they do not miss the many exciting places of interest that are within walking distance of the town centre. We have to do everything we can to attract visitors to Ayr and encourage them to return.”

On the day of the launch a Town Crier, accompanied by two assistants, spread the word about the new system as he walked around the High Street and the Sandgate. He encouraged people to visit Carnegie Library and see a specially created exhibition in the foyer that displays the panels used in the Air-Ways system and the FREE pocket map.

Councillor Hywel Davies, the Portfolio Carrier for Learning and Prosperity said: “It is very important that visitors to Ayr are helped to find their way around Ayr town centre. Tourism is crucial to our local economy, it generates around £200 million pounds per year to South Ayrshire, and is an important source of employment.

“The Ayr-Ways signs are a simple way of guiding tourists, who arrive in Ayr at the bus and rail stations or car parks, round the town and letting them make informed choices about how they would like to spend their time in the town.”

In addition 100,000 promotional FREE pocket maps have been produced that contain valuable information about facilities and buildings in and around Ayr.

South Ayrshire Council funded the project with grant support from Scottish Enterprise and European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.

Catriona McLeod, Project Manager at Scottish Enterprise said: “The Ayr-Ways project will significantly improve the local tourist experience by encouraging visitors to explore Ayr further, to stay longer and come back again which in turn will bring added economic benefits to the town.

“This enhanced public information provision in Ayr’s town centre and seafront areas will prove a real boon for the many visitors attending the annual burns an’ a’ that festival in the coming weeks.”

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