SOUTH Ayrshire councillors will decide which proposals make the cut as part of the council’s ward project fund.

Last year the council agreed 116 capital projects as part of the new administration’s election manifesto commitment to give each ward £1 million.

These were due to begin in 2023/24 and 2024/25. Of these, 28 have now been completed.

However, some of the approved projects have subsequently been taken out of the programme entirely or have issues that require to be addressed.

The remaining 172 projects were also assessed as requiring more investigation, with local councillors involved in discussions this year, highlighting the priorities in each ward.

The council has admitted that further work has seen the original cost estimates change.

Councillors asked officers to provide more frequent updates on the progress of the scheme, while also including other regeneration projects in each area.

Most wards used existing place plans and community plans to inform the projects. However,  Ayr East is yet to see a place plan or a community action plan put in place.

This saw the council engage with the ward’s community councils and councillors to identify potential projects.

This has left all of the wards, other than Ayr East and Prestwick, with potential projects that are close to the funding limit set for each ward.

Councillors agreed that no additional projects be brought to the table to ensure there was funding for project over-runs.

The full council will now consider the projects put forward as priorities, along with those approved but now being scrapped and those that have yet to fully assessed and require more information, including business cases.

The projects recommended for approval include:

  • Troon – Planters, new pump track, skate park reinstallation, development of facilities at Fullerton Woods
  • Prestwick – Banner signage on Prestwick Main Street, repair of steps to Boydfield Gardens and improved footpaths, Prestwick Pool improvements.
  • Ayr North – Play equipment at Craigie Way/Westwood Avenue, Oswald road surfacing and equipment.
  • Ayr West – Burns statue square public realm upgrades, town hall gardens, Balgarth path, relocation of noticeboard at Alloway Primary
  • Kyle – review of seating and signage around Craigie, review of Craigie village green for events, improved sports facilities in Annbank
  • Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton – Wildlife habitat improvements, Minishant playpark, ‘Alzheimers walk’ in Crosshill, surfacing of Maybole High Street pavement.
  • Girvan – Community space in Dailly, Girvan and Ballantrae tennis court resurfacing, improvements to Heronsford war memorial, community theatre development.

The projects that have been removed from the ward funding programme could still go ahead, but would have different funding sources, mainly related to active travel.

These projects are around access, cycling and walking routes, and signage in Prestwick, Newton, the Smugglers Trail in Loans, Monkton, Dundonald, Barr and Colmonell.

Another ward project for shop front improvements in Newmarket Street, Ayr is also recommended for removal to the council’s business support service, while an extension to the Quay Zone in Girvan would look to be sourced by regeneration rather than ward funds.

The report also discusses the strategy for improving Ayr town centre.

It states: “One of the projects related to redeveloping Burns Statue Square into a public realm gateway to Ayr town centre, possibly involving the realignment of the A70 and creating an improved public square.

“Consultants have been appointed to take forward this potential project into a fully designed and costed plan. This will involve improved public realm and public art. It is intended that this plan will be presented to Council at its meeting on December 12, 2024.

“At this stage the cost of delivering these improvements are not known until this work is complete.

“In the meantime, it is recommended that a nominal sum of £2m is reserved from the Ayr West Ward Capital to fund delivery of the core elements of this plan.”

The report also seeks approval to split a £2m promenade fund between the promenades in Ayr, Girvan, Troon and Prestwick.

The report will be considered by South Ayrshire Council on Thursday.