Election in the air?

THERE is definitely an election in the air! The papers are still buzzing with all sorts of reactions to the council budget – both for and against, some reasoned some definitely off the wall. One point being missed is that although the South Ayrshire hike was one of the highest, the rates being paid are still lower than North and EastAyrshire. And had Labour been in charge you would all be facing a 4.6 rise.

But enough of tit for tat politicking.

Going round the doors it is interesting to see the subjects you raise. The weather was good last weekend so I headed for Maidens – to the south of the new ward which stretches north to Coylton and Annbank and complaints and comments ranged from the closure of the A&E unit at Ayr Hospital. - NOT a popular move - to what Maggie Thatcher did for the working man! How long has she been out of power? Business rates came up, speeding on the M77 – some for and other against the 50mps restriction being discussed for the Symington stretch to Monkton roundabout – but everyone was in favour of a Maybole by-pass, which the council is really fighting for.

And of course there was a unanimous welcome for the posts put up at the seafront to keep the travellers off the grass.

These posts of course were part of the Civic Pride initiative launched by the Conservatives when they took over power last December. Putting pride back into the community didn`t just mean flower baskets in Ayr High Street as Labour keeping implying. And what`s wrong with putting flower tubs and baskets back into our towns and villages. Tourism is our major industry and pretty areas attract visitors. And let`s admit it – we like them too

This is my first blog - so what subject should I tackle?

Interuptions do happen when you are working.

What is concerning you most? Probably the latest Council Tax figure. Yes I got a shock too being a South Ayrshire council tax payer like you – but when you look at the 3.9 per cent hike and analyse it, the money will be well spent. After all one per cent is going towards the six new schools being built by South Ayrshire Council . Our children are our future and they deserve to be educated in the best of facilities. When you look at our schools – many built in the 1960s – you must admit they badly need replacing. That leaves us with a 2.9 hike which compares favourably with the rest of Scotland.

There has been a lot of hooh-hah in the local papers about massive closures of leisure facilities. Golf Courses and swimming pools are safe and sports barns are also being kept open in the villages – though they could be better used by local people.

There have also been scare headlines about school closures. True there is a schools/education consultation going on just now throughout South Ayrshire. Teachers and parents are all being involved as well as councillors and officials. With falling school roles this is a means of deciding the best way of preparing for a brighter future for all our kids.

Oh I know what you are thinking – there was a `consultation` about the Accident and Emergency facility at Ayr Hospital and look what happened to that. The future of our schools is being decided by the people who operate and use them – not an unelected board answerable to the Scottish Executive.

Living in the countryside is great – but we have issues that we are really concerned about Our rural roads must be about the worst in Scotland and I would fight for more money for improvements to get rid of the potholes.

And windfarms are a particular concern out of town centres. They are being built near our homes. While I am in favour of environmentally friendly energy production – and communities do benefit from the cash spin off from windfarm construction - it is vital that these do not go up in our most scenic areas – like the hills above Culzean.

That`s all folks for this first attempt. Look for next week`s update

Hello and welcome to my blog

LET me introduce myself. My name is Ann Galbraith and I hope to be elected as a councillor for the new ward of Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton. You may not have heard much about this new ward yet …..but you will!

I am the former editor of the Ayr Advertiser and during my time with that paper I gained a reputation for telling it like it is. I wrote a weekly column – often standing up for the interests of the people of South Ayrshire – and the council were regularly in my sights. Now it is time to put my money where my mouth is.

Having just completed a book on Prestwick Airport I now have the time to devote to public service. My appetite was whetted last year when I stood in the Maybole East and North Carrick by-election losing by ONE vote. This time I hope to go one better!

I live in Crosshill with my three cats– I have been here for coming up on 16 years – but before that I lived eight years in Coylton, while my daughter was growing up – so I have a full appreciation of the interests and concerns of people who live in rural South Ayrshire. My daughter Amber is now an advocate based in Edinburgh and lives with her husband, two dogs and a cat, in Musselburgh.