Report from the meeting of 26 January, 2006
South Ayrshire Access Panel meets on the last Thursday of every month and tackles issues relating to making South Ayrshire's environment, facilities and services available to all its residents.
The Panel discussed recent applications for planning permission for a number of commercial and service provision premises in the Troon area. Commercial premises in Ayr were discussed as were the playing fields at Doonside, also in Ayr.
The Panel agreed to investigate a reported problem with the dropped kerbs in Kyle Street in Ayr; opposite the new shopping centre currently under construction. An ongoing matter of cars parking on the poorly defined pedestrian crossing at Ayr Railway Station will once again be followed up. This matter is of a longstanding nature and Panel members agreed that a degree of persistance may be required to resolve the situation. Meanwhile, the safety of all leaving the entrance to the Railway Station facing up to Smith Street is put at risk.
The 'Pavements are for People' Campaign - the Access Panel's drive to ensure that pavements are safe for the use of all the residents of the area - is to be extended. Dr Trevor Matthews, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, is keen to see this display touring around the libraries of South Ayrshire. So watch out for it in your area over the coming year!
The Panel expressed the wish that South Ayrshire Council's new initiative to regulate obstructions on Ayr town centre pavements be followed up vigorously and enforced where necessary. The Panel felt that there was a need to maintain some momentum on this matter, with recent alterations in balance of Councilors.
The Panel's Access Guide to the accessibility - or otherwise - of all commercial premises in Ayr town centre is currently at the publishers and well on course for its launch in April.
Members of the Access Panel are currently involved in reviewing consultation documents on consideration of Disability Equality and Access with respect to the Council's policy, planning and service provision.
There is an amendment to the Shopmobility Scheme information posted on the web site last month - this will be corrected under the report for November which can be found in the News archive. The Scheme, whose remit is to assist disabled shoppers from its main base behind the Kyle shopping centre in Ayr, also now has a mobile unit which travels round the area and is available between 10am and 3pm. Due to lack of use, this unit will no longer visit Girvan, but will will instead be at the Rivergate in Irvine for an extra day:
| Walker Hall, Troon | Monday |
| Somerfield car park, Prestwick | Tuesday |
| Rivergate, Irvine | Wednesday, Thursday and Friday |
Reports from previous meetings - November 2005 onwards - can be found in the News archive.