20/01/2026
𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘆𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
“𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘆𝗿” 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲
This morning’s Cabinet meeting saw policy lead Cllr Clark pull a paper on progressing the Accessible Ayr project, stating that he is instructing a re-design that will “not incorporate any cycle lanes in Ayr town centre.”
Accessible Ayr has the potential to significantly improve the public realm around Ayr town centre, using external funding for active travel infrastructure to act as a much-needed catalyst for revitalising these streets and bringing new businesses into some of the long-empty units.
Commenting, SNP Group spokesperson for Environment & Economy Cllr Craig Mackay said:
“For a policy lead to single-handedly decide that significant design work already completed should now be binned is quite breathtaking. This won’t only cause yet more delays in this important town centre revamp, but will seriously threaten up to £7m of funding from Transport Scotland which is reliant on the high quality cycle lanes which Cllr Clark seeks to remove. Ironically, the binned paper confirms that due to funding timescales, this funding has already been applied for based on the existing designs.
“This is the third time in the space of two meetings recently that papers have come in front of councillors after being signed off by the Administration, only for them to be unceremoniously pulled with absolutely no debate and deferred for future decision. The waste of officer time comes at a cost, and in the meantime this moribund Administration continue to make absolutely no progress with these important matters affecting the people of South Ayrshire.
“This project has been in development since 2018, and has been consulted on numerous times, which has already seen the project develop in response to public views.
“We need to get the balance right for all users of the town centre – whether they access it on foot, wheelchair, bicycle, bus, taxi or private car.
“There were outstanding objections regarding a couple of sections, where I believe some further design work may be of benefit, but certainly without a need to rip up the whole scheme. It beggars belief that the council Administration have yet again brought a paper forward that they don’t themselves support, rather than getting their peas in a row before tabling the paper.”
𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲:
The stated objective of Accessible Ayr is: “to significantly invest in the town centre, making it a vibrant and more attractive place for people to visit and enjoy and easier to access by people walking, wheeling, and cycling. To do this, the Accessible Ayr proposes public realm improvements including: refreshed and level pavements, protected cycle lanes in key locations, new street furniture, reduced street clutter, improved pedestrian crossings, improved drainage, and better lighting.”
