Girvan Councillor Alec Clark has hit out at the lack of strategic priorities located within the south of Ayrshire.
During a report on South Ayrshire Council’s planning services, the independent member complained that almost all of the strategic priorities for South Ayrshire are clustered around the north of the authority.
The map featured the projects agreed as ‘spatial strategy’ priorities across South, East and North Ayrshire.
The only priorities south of Ayr are the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere project, at the border with Dumfries and Galloway, the A77 trunk road and the Ayrshire Coastline Management Plan.
In comparison, in Ayr and the north of South Ayrshire there are South East Ayr, Ayr Town Centre, Aerospace and Space Cluster at Prestwick Airport.
He said: “There is an illustrative map which doesn’t give anything in the strategic priorities for the Carrick towns and villages, including the Grangestone Industrial Estate, a possible rail halt, the expansion of Girvan Harbour. There’s nothing mentioned there.
“All of the strategic priorities are aimed around the north of South Ayrshire.”
Head of planning Craig Iles acknowledged Cllr Clark’s criticism.
He said: “I take your point on board. The priorities are more clustered around the airport and the major settlements in the north of the district.
“It is important that all of these areas are addressed.”
Mr Iles pointed to a national planning policy that was looking to focus on the benefits that the coastline can bring to communities and indicated this would be something that could be of benefit to the more southern parts of South Ayrshire.
Cllr Clark replied that the situation saw areas like the Grangestone Industrial Estate and major employers in the area not given the attention or involvement in future planning they deserved.
He said: “It is sometimes overlooked, but we have one of best employers in Ayrshire, William Grant – a very positive and active employer in Girvan.
“They also subcontract to companies across Maybole, Carrick, but this is not recognised through this work.”
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