The schools` consultation process trundled into Maybole on Wednesday night and considering the lack of publicity promoting the event there was a reasonable turnout.
However about half the audience – in total about 60 – were teachers, head teachers , councillors and one election candidate (me) – certainly not enough parents. And let`s face it, parents and pupils will be the ones most affected by change.
For change there will need to be as school roles are falling throughout the area and some schools are falling apart – a legacy, South Ayrshire officials were quick to point out, of the bad old days of Strathclyde Regional Council. The helpful information sheet which was handed out said `efforts to maintain quantity are compromising the long term quality of the provision. – in realspeak that means- changes will need to be made if our kids are to get the education they deserve. Schools may need to be amalgamated, new schools may be built on different sites, more use could be made of IT linking schools, school campuses may be created – all sorts of ideas.
However the officials also emphasised the village schools were recognised as vitally important to communities and a falling school role did NOT mean a school was threatened with closure.
Luckily this is a very early stage in the year long consultation process which means there is plenty time to have your say– and the education department officials were at pains to emphasise this will be a real consultation not like one about the Ayr Hospital Accident and Emergency department closure! They really want to know what you think, any ideas you have will be considered. This is a genuine attempt to consult communities every step of the way. They know how important the future education provision is.
Sitting back saying nothing is not an option. You want to keep your local school, think it is important, want to see it improve – then put pen to paper and tell them. Bombard them with ideas and opinions. Write to the Director of Education, Culture and Lifelong Learning, County Buildings, Wellington Square, Ayr KA 19 7DN or you can email mayboleareaconsultation@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.
What do I think? Rural schools are the heart of small communities and I want to see their continued presence in the villages. It’s up to the council to find ways of providing a high standard of education provided at the local level. I will stand up and be counted on this issue.
Thursday, 22 March 2007
Sunday, 18 March 2007
EASY PEASY
AS EASY as 1-2-3. At least that`s what they`re saying about the new voting system for the May 3 elections. And now I understand it I can explain it to you! All three Ayrshire councils combined to hold a seminar in the County Hall, Ayr on Saturday morning to demonstrate the new voting system to we candidates – so that we can answer your questions on the doorstep. I suppose it simply comes down to this – instead of putting a cross (X) against the candidate of your choice this time, you put down 1, 2, 3 and 4. And why four numbers? Easy peasy, you are voting for four councillors in the new extended ward of Coylton, Maybole and North Carrick. Got it? (Don`t worry, there are plenty leaflets on their way spelling it out). Counting will be different too this time round. It will all be done electronically. We have entered the computer age for vote counting – let`s hope there isn`t a power cut.
Good news this week for communities all over South Ayrshire. Community Councils are to get real cash to spend. There have been rumblings that the Civic Pride initiative has seemed to be concentrated on Ayr – you`ve heard the moans from some quarters about those flower baskets – so now cash is being made available in the budget for Community Councils to spend on pet projects. It`s all about extending Civic Pride throughout the whole of South Ayrshire. The amount being made available to each council will vary according to size of community – but the smallest will be £2,000.
Round the doorsteps comments still have the power to surprise and I was somewhat taken aback to have to discuss the merits Trident. Thank goodness this is not a council decision. I don`t think big national issues should ever reflect on local elections – but unfortunately they are sometimes the choice that people make. The only time one of my wee election cards was handed back on the doorstep was by a guy who still `couldn`t forgive` Margaret Thatcher! On a more local level I had some sympathy for a Straiton resident who said she had lived all over but found Ayrshire the dirtiest county she had stayed in. The council do their best and are spending more money and manpower on lifting the litter – but it is us who drop it!
Good news this week for communities all over South Ayrshire. Community Councils are to get real cash to spend. There have been rumblings that the Civic Pride initiative has seemed to be concentrated on Ayr – you`ve heard the moans from some quarters about those flower baskets – so now cash is being made available in the budget for Community Councils to spend on pet projects. It`s all about extending Civic Pride throughout the whole of South Ayrshire. The amount being made available to each council will vary according to size of community – but the smallest will be £2,000.
Round the doorsteps comments still have the power to surprise and I was somewhat taken aback to have to discuss the merits Trident. Thank goodness this is not a council decision. I don`t think big national issues should ever reflect on local elections – but unfortunately they are sometimes the choice that people make. The only time one of my wee election cards was handed back on the doorstep was by a guy who still `couldn`t forgive` Margaret Thatcher! On a more local level I had some sympathy for a Straiton resident who said she had lived all over but found Ayrshire the dirtiest county she had stayed in. The council do their best and are spending more money and manpower on lifting the litter – but it is us who drop it!
Friday, 9 March 2007
A plaque for Andy?
Well it`s been a slow week on the political front
.
You can judge that by the only negative campaigning story to appear in the local press this week – frustrated soon to retire councillor McKenzie banging on about how he believed that not enough Tory Councillors had been attending Cosla meetings. Riveting stuff!
For those of you not in the know Cosla is the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities – a political talking shop – which discusses issues of interest to politicians – fortunately councillors do not spend their time and your money going to Edinburgh to talk for a hour or so about things that do not affect you but are working here in South Ayrshire for the folk they were elected to represent.
But enough of overtly political stuff.
I have been on out on the campaign trail in the new Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton ward this week - a daunting prospect if you look at the map. The new ward stretches from half way to Girvan in the south, past Straiton to the east and Coylton and Annbank to the north. A real mix of small towns, villages, country houses and farms – and a real mix of problems.
It`s amazing what comes up when you speak to folk on the doorstep. The most startling comment was from the guy who asked `Tory – what`s that?` I was concerned he was about to come up with a witty or rude response, but he quickly followed with – `Oh that`s Conservative isn`t it? –I got a letter from your leader this morning` - referring to the David Cameron espistle that will have been received by most of you. Great sigh of relief.
Another wanted to know what could be done about the famous – or should it be infamous – Maybole railway bridge. Could it be removed or was it too late. We agreed it could probably be a tourist attraction in 100 years or so. Maybe it should carry an Andy Hill commemorative plaque so we all remember who was responsible for it.
In Coylton a demand for a by-pass came high on the list for some just as it does to the Maybole folk. I will fight for both of them. And there are the usual dog mess and litter complaints and of course the state of the roads which are shocking!
Then I called at the home of Mr and Mrs Ismail, who live in my ward. You will remember their son was murdered in a robbery at the family shop in Maybole before Christmas. Seeing their grief, desolation and feeling of isolation put a different perspective on things and reinforced the need to create safe communities for our families.
It is conversations such as this that makes me feel that it is necessary to get around the ward and listen and speak to people to understand what is going on. Maybe I will get a chance to meet you on the doorstep soon.
.
You can judge that by the only negative campaigning story to appear in the local press this week – frustrated soon to retire councillor McKenzie banging on about how he believed that not enough Tory Councillors had been attending Cosla meetings. Riveting stuff!
For those of you not in the know Cosla is the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities – a political talking shop – which discusses issues of interest to politicians – fortunately councillors do not spend their time and your money going to Edinburgh to talk for a hour or so about things that do not affect you but are working here in South Ayrshire for the folk they were elected to represent.
But enough of overtly political stuff.
I have been on out on the campaign trail in the new Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton ward this week - a daunting prospect if you look at the map. The new ward stretches from half way to Girvan in the south, past Straiton to the east and Coylton and Annbank to the north. A real mix of small towns, villages, country houses and farms – and a real mix of problems.
It`s amazing what comes up when you speak to folk on the doorstep. The most startling comment was from the guy who asked `Tory – what`s that?` I was concerned he was about to come up with a witty or rude response, but he quickly followed with – `Oh that`s Conservative isn`t it? –I got a letter from your leader this morning` - referring to the David Cameron espistle that will have been received by most of you. Great sigh of relief.
Another wanted to know what could be done about the famous – or should it be infamous – Maybole railway bridge. Could it be removed or was it too late. We agreed it could probably be a tourist attraction in 100 years or so. Maybe it should carry an Andy Hill commemorative plaque so we all remember who was responsible for it.
In Coylton a demand for a by-pass came high on the list for some just as it does to the Maybole folk. I will fight for both of them. And there are the usual dog mess and litter complaints and of course the state of the roads which are shocking!
Then I called at the home of Mr and Mrs Ismail, who live in my ward. You will remember their son was murdered in a robbery at the family shop in Maybole before Christmas. Seeing their grief, desolation and feeling of isolation put a different perspective on things and reinforced the need to create safe communities for our families.
It is conversations such as this that makes me feel that it is necessary to get around the ward and listen and speak to people to understand what is going on. Maybe I will get a chance to meet you on the doorstep soon.
Friday, 2 March 2007
De-bunking misleading headlines
I WAS at the last meeting of the Rural Communities Committee on Thursday March 1 – the last under this present administration at least. For despite some headlines in the press which suggested it was about to be scrapped, it looks as if this committee – and its funding – will continue well into 2007 and beyond.
All members on Thursday – many of whom certainly hope to be re-elected into the new council on May 3 – agreed unanimously that the committee should continue in some form under the new administration and the budget for next year has already earmarked funds for rural projects.
So despite misleading statements and rumours to the contrary, the rural money hasn`t been sacrificed to allow Ayr Town Centre to have flower baskets!
The last of this council`s rural cash went towards a community garden in Tarbolton, disabled access to Symington Parish Church and the Ayrshire Rivers Trust `Salmon in the Classroom` project .which involves pupils at Barr, Dundonald, Tarbolton, Dailly, St Cuthberts, Cairn and Minishant Primaries. The projects aims to improve children`s understanding of rivers, environmental issues and the importance of protecting wildlife.
And speaking of rumours and misleading headlines, there was another Labour -inspired one in the local press this week concerning Coylton Library - `Villagers fear library will close`. it screamed. Readers who got to the end of the story would see that negotiations about the lease of the building housing the library are ongoing and a statement by the council leader Gibson Macdonald saying that `Coylton Library will remain open. The matter is as simple as that` .`But hey, why let facts get in the way of a good story especially if you have gone to the trouble of having a picture taken.
Concerns were raised at the Rural Communities Committee about the future of our rural post offices. The most vulnerable ones locally, committee members were told by officials, appear to be Annbank, Kirkmichael and Turnberry. The council of course will fight to keep all our local post offices open – recognising the important role they play in the community and have submitted a response to the current Government consultation which has had a very short time frame and ends this month. It is to be hoped more attention is paid to the response to this`consultation` than the one involving the A&E unit at Ayr Hospital!
However at the same time, working to a `just in case` scenario and recognising closures may happen despite all the best efforts of opponents, council officers have been instructed to look at the best viable options and pilot programmes that have been tried out in other areas, like setting up Post Office facilities in other premises like community halls and the use of mobile units.
All members on Thursday – many of whom certainly hope to be re-elected into the new council on May 3 – agreed unanimously that the committee should continue in some form under the new administration and the budget for next year has already earmarked funds for rural projects.
So despite misleading statements and rumours to the contrary, the rural money hasn`t been sacrificed to allow Ayr Town Centre to have flower baskets!
The last of this council`s rural cash went towards a community garden in Tarbolton, disabled access to Symington Parish Church and the Ayrshire Rivers Trust `Salmon in the Classroom` project .which involves pupils at Barr, Dundonald, Tarbolton, Dailly, St Cuthberts, Cairn and Minishant Primaries. The projects aims to improve children`s understanding of rivers, environmental issues and the importance of protecting wildlife.
And speaking of rumours and misleading headlines, there was another Labour -inspired one in the local press this week concerning Coylton Library - `Villagers fear library will close`. it screamed. Readers who got to the end of the story would see that negotiations about the lease of the building housing the library are ongoing and a statement by the council leader Gibson Macdonald saying that `Coylton Library will remain open. The matter is as simple as that` .`But hey, why let facts get in the way of a good story especially if you have gone to the trouble of having a picture taken.
Concerns were raised at the Rural Communities Committee about the future of our rural post offices. The most vulnerable ones locally, committee members were told by officials, appear to be Annbank, Kirkmichael and Turnberry. The council of course will fight to keep all our local post offices open – recognising the important role they play in the community and have submitted a response to the current Government consultation which has had a very short time frame and ends this month. It is to be hoped more attention is paid to the response to this`consultation` than the one involving the A&E unit at Ayr Hospital!
However at the same time, working to a `just in case` scenario and recognising closures may happen despite all the best efforts of opponents, council officers have been instructed to look at the best viable options and pilot programmes that have been tried out in other areas, like setting up Post Office facilities in other premises like community halls and the use of mobile units.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)