Cash for communities

There was good news for rural communities – in fact all communities – this week when the council approved a cash bonanza.

Starting from now Community Councils are to receive real cash to pay for pet projects they identify as good for the local people. (Up until now the only cash they have received has been to cover administration costs). It could be spent on the creation of community gardens, a clean up litter/grafitti campaign, playschemes for kids, additional facilities for the elderly – the list is endless.

Grants will range from a minimum of £2,000 for smaller communities rising to £5,000. The only snag – if you could describe it as that – is that the project has to get the approval of the council before getting the go-ahead. Councillors see that as a safeguard against spurious schemes. But that`s where County Buildings interference will end. The money is the community`s to spend as the people have decided.

I was out and about in really rural South Ayrshire this week and was disturbed to learn about the amount of crime taking place in the countryside. Farm gates being stolen, machinery damaged – pointless acts of vandalism that cost farmers dear. You don`t tend to hear about this anti-social behaviour. Town crimes seem to make the headlines.
Even more disturbing was learning of the abuse of the Freedom to Roam we now have - the new legislation brought in by the Scottish Parliament... While it lets the rest of us enjoy the countryside there are of course those that abuse the privilege – like the groups of men reportedly going out with lurchers and hunting deer. Brutal and bloody and on our doorstep. The police know about it – but I guess catching them in the act is another thing.

A Straiton resident contacted me this week to complain about the speeding timber lorries he meets on the road. He wanted to show me the extent of the damage they were causing. I pointed out I was aware of the problem driving the road regularly but he insisted on showing me for himself – which led to a most enjoyable drive in a bright red left-hand drive Corvette! Cool! (as the kids say) However he was able to point out not just the damage to the road surface but the real mess the lorries are making of the verges. Plus of course the danger from heavy vehicles driving at excessive speed. I am currently trying to find out what conditions were agreed with the Forestry Commission regarding speed etc when the haulage started.- and what happened to the rail plan.

Well election time is really with us – the dreaded political placards are appearing on the lamp standards all over the place. Me, I would ban them, particularly as the parties are so keen to erect them but aren`t quite so quick to remove them after the results are known. And I am not targeting one particular party – though Labour have been first out the starting gate – they are all as bad as each other!