South Ayrshire Council News

South Ayrshire Council is giving you the chance to influence the future direction of housing issues in South Ayrshire by inviting you to attend one of a series of six public events.

The Council and its partners have been working on a new Local Housing Strategy (LHS) to cover the period 2010 - 2015. By law (Housing (Scotland) Act 2001), every local authority must produce a Strategy which sets out how housing issues will be tackled.

The key aims of the strategy are to ensure people in South Ayrshire can find a suitable place to stay; live in warm, dry, energy-efficient homes; access advice and support regarding accommodation to suit their needs and preventing homelessness; and find suitable accommodation if homeless. The overall objective is to help residents become proud of their neighbourhoods. The draft strategy is your chance to have your say on how these aims should be achieved – or even if these are the right priority areas in the first place.

Councillor Douglas Campbell, Housing and Customer First Portfolio Holder said: "We need your input to make sure we are heading in the right direction. There are six events where you can let us know what you think and I would encourage as many people as possible to attend.

"This is your chance to make sure you can help shape the way forward for housing issues in South Ayrshire, so come along and have your say, your ideas and views are important to us."

If you would like to have your say, come along to one of the following events:

• Prestwick Community Centre Monday 23 August 7pm 8.30pm
• Troon Concert Hall Tuesday Tuesday 24 August 7pm 8.30pm
• Ayr Town Hall Tuesday 7 September 7pm 8.30pm
• Maybole Town Hall Friday 10 September 7pm 8.30pm
• Girvan Carrick Buildings Wednesday 15 September 7pm 8.30pm
• John Pollock Centre Wednesday 22 September 6.45pm 9.00pm

Presentations will take place every 15 minutes, so feel free to attend at a time and place that is most convenient for you. There will be a chance to ask questions and discuss issues after each presentation, and if you complete one of our feedback questionnaires, you'll stand a chance of winning £50 worth of shopping vouchers.

Copies of the draft LHS as well as its accompanying Strategic Environmental Assessment Report are available from your local library, online, by calling 01292 612916 or emailing lhs@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.