Parking has long been a sore point in Prestwick. There is a severe shortage of parking facilities and the vast majority of parking spaces are on-street. Even these spaces have been put under pressure over the last couple of years by irresponsible airport customers unwilling to pay for airport parking simply leaving their cars in Prestwick’s streets and disappearing for days, weeks and even months at a time.
As long as the cars have a valid road fund licence there is nothing that the police can do to remove them. Up until now the parking problems have been treated on an ad-hoc basis, one or two streets at a time. This has not been terribly satisfactory as residents of those streets which have been made subject to time-limited parking restrictions are delighted that they no longer have airport customers parking outside their homes, but the residents of houses in streets close by are very unhappy as this has resulted in the displacement of the cars into their streets where they are parked outside their homes.
A couple of years ago the roads department officers recommended that no more one-off solutions should be applied but that what was needed was a full blown survey of the whole of Prestwick to deal with all traffic management problems including parking, especially airport parking. Unfortunately this does not come cheap and has so far never taken place. However I am delighted to be able to say that at this month’s Leadership Panel we were advised that the council had a budget surplus for the year ended 5th April 2007 of just under £3.5m. A decision was taken by the panel to transfer £1m to reserves, to ring fence a further £1m towards meeting the funding gap which will arise when we come to do the budget for 2008/2009, to transfer £200k to the contingency fund and to invest £1.3m in badly needed priority projects.
One of these projects is the traffic management and parking survey so badly needed in Prestwick. Unfortunately we have no way of knowing what the cost of implementing the results of such a survey will be and finding those resources will be the next challenge to face councillors. However the good news is that the problem is recognised as severe and is now being tackled. This survey will give us a starting point from which to build an action plan to secure a sensible traffic management and parking solution for the future for the town of Prestwick
Wednesday 4 July 2007
Monday 7 May 2007
Thank you – and a new electoral dawn for South Ayrshire?
Many thanks to all of you who voted for me and my running mate Margaret Toner. It is very humbling to think that people take the trouble to come out to the polling stations and mark their ballot papers in your favour. This is my third election victory and each time when the result was announced I experienced an incredible feeling of pride that so many people had chosen me to represent them. Along with the feeling of pride is also a certain amount of apprehension as it sinks home that you have been given a huge responsibility and I commit myself to working diligently for the people of Prestwick in particular and South Ayrshire in general for the next four years.
The new electoral make up of 12 Tories, 9 Labour, 8 SNP and 1 Independent means that no party has overall control but that the parties are going to have to come to some sort of agreement or understanding and embrace a spirit of co-operation which puts the best interests of the people of South Ayrshire at the heart of their decision making.
We councillors will be under intense scrutiny and I am in no doubt that we will be judged harshly by the electorate in four years time if we waste this opportunity to change the face of south Ayrshire politics from one of confrontation to one of co-operation.
The new electoral make up of 12 Tories, 9 Labour, 8 SNP and 1 Independent means that no party has overall control but that the parties are going to have to come to some sort of agreement or understanding and embrace a spirit of co-operation which puts the best interests of the people of South Ayrshire at the heart of their decision making.
We councillors will be under intense scrutiny and I am in no doubt that we will be judged harshly by the electorate in four years time if we waste this opportunity to change the face of south Ayrshire politics from one of confrontation to one of co-operation.
Monday 30 April 2007
Hallelujah!! - Last Blog Before the Election
Well folks, this is my final pre-election blog of this campaign.
I will write another entry after the election to sum up my feelings about the results (I just hope that I don’t have to do it through blinding tears).
Last week saw me involved in a lot less canvassing than previously. This was restricted by the number of council committee meetings I participated in and the number of leaflets and personal letters that I delivered.
I was described by a friend as the most casually dressed candidate standing for election. Checking out the photograph, I suspect that many of you would change that description to the scruffiest candidate standing for election.
I will write another entry after the election to sum up my feelings about the results (I just hope that I don’t have to do it through blinding tears).
Last week saw me involved in a lot less canvassing than previously. This was restricted by the number of council committee meetings I participated in and the number of leaflets and personal letters that I delivered.
I was described by a friend as the most casually dressed candidate standing for election. Checking out the photograph, I suspect that many of you would change that description to the scruffiest candidate standing for election.
We are now on the final run up to polling day on Thursday and I suspect that most of you are beginning to suffer from election overload.
Last week saw a plethora of committee papers being passed as the decks were cleared for the new council.
The conservatives tried to get the debate on the effect that the windfarm at Dersalloch Hill will have on the future of Prestwick Airport reopened, but labour councillors refused to allow this to happen and so a cloud now hangs over the future of Prestwick Airport. The minute of the meeting was amended to reflect the fact that a new radar system has to be installed to the satisfaction of Prestwick Airport. This is far too little and far too late. A Public Enquiry was the only way to safeguard further investment into Prestwick Airport by the owners. The irresponsible actions of the labour councillors have now put this investment in severe doubt.
Doesn’t it make you angry and question the lack of commitment shown by labour councillors to Prestwick?
The past week also saw the formal closure of Mainholm Academy and the merging of the Good Shepherd primary school with St Johns. I look forward to seeing the results of the formal consultation on the schools estates which is presently taking place. At that point the future shape of our schools estate will become much clearer. With the building of the new Prestwick Academy and other schools well under way it is an exciting time for our Education department.
Thank you all for your patience with those of us who have delivered leaflets and knocked on your doors. Your civility and willingness to discuss the election was very encouraging.
Here’s looking forward to Thursday (or should that really be Friday?)
Last week saw a plethora of committee papers being passed as the decks were cleared for the new council.
The conservatives tried to get the debate on the effect that the windfarm at Dersalloch Hill will have on the future of Prestwick Airport reopened, but labour councillors refused to allow this to happen and so a cloud now hangs over the future of Prestwick Airport. The minute of the meeting was amended to reflect the fact that a new radar system has to be installed to the satisfaction of Prestwick Airport. This is far too little and far too late. A Public Enquiry was the only way to safeguard further investment into Prestwick Airport by the owners. The irresponsible actions of the labour councillors have now put this investment in severe doubt.
Doesn’t it make you angry and question the lack of commitment shown by labour councillors to Prestwick?
The past week also saw the formal closure of Mainholm Academy and the merging of the Good Shepherd primary school with St Johns. I look forward to seeing the results of the formal consultation on the schools estates which is presently taking place. At that point the future shape of our schools estate will become much clearer. With the building of the new Prestwick Academy and other schools well under way it is an exciting time for our Education department.
Thank you all for your patience with those of us who have delivered leaflets and knocked on your doors. Your civility and willingness to discuss the election was very encouraging.
Here’s looking forward to Thursday (or should that really be Friday?)
Sunday 22 April 2007
Des Browne, Parking and the Seafront
Well, guess what?
Des Browne apologised but did not resign. No surprise there then?
The words of the old song that “saying sorry is the hardest thing” can be rewritten for Labour as “saying sorry is something that can be done at the drop of a hat without even thinking about it”. As well as Des Browne, Tony Blair and the potato famine come to mind, but acting sorry is something else altogether. There is no doubt that the old maxim of ignoring what people say and watching what they do is the best way to judge them. I have no doubt that watching the actions of Labour Ministers will make it very easy to determine their integrity.
Last Thursday I attended a presentation by Erskine the charity which provides specialist care for ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen. When you hear about the work being done by this charity to care for those severely injured in the service of our country it is humbling.
Even more humbling is learning of the sacrifices made by servicemen and servicewomen in carrying out their duty. We should be eternally grateful and our politicians should be ensuring that no veteran has to plead for help. Help should be a matter of course and no barriers should be put in the way of the fullest recovery that veterans can make.
Another week of beautiful weather; which made walking the streets, delivering leaflets and talking to people an absolute pleasure. I reckon that I am lighter, thinner and fitter than I have been for years. Electioneering can be stressful but the exercise is wonderfully therapeutic.
Over the last four years I have published regular “In Touch” newsletters, three or four per year, with the intention of ensuring that constituents knew what I was up to on their behalf. If elected I propose to do the same for the next four years; it is not good enough to contact people only at the time of elections.
Despite the progress being made by the Conservative administration over the last sixteen months there is still disappointment that some things have not yet been fully tackled. And I acknowledge that we have only scratched the surface of what needs to be done.
Two specific concerns are parking and the seafront.
We have allocated additional funding from the civic pride fund for maintenance of the seafront, but the seasonal workers do not start until the beginning of May. This was a mistake which we must ensure does not happen again. Our seafronts should be cleaned in time for the Easter weekend. It was disgraceful that this did not happen and we will make sure that it does not happen again.
Car parking in Prestwick is a major concern. More and more residents are being inconvenienced by airport customers refusing to pay for parking at the airport and parking in residential streets in Prestwick. Up until now the council’s response is to put yellow lines down in the most vulnerable of places. While this helps those areas it has the effect of displacing the parking to streets further away from the airport. A full review of parking is needed in Prestwick to try and arrive at a plan which will prevent inconsiderate airport parking but will still allow shoppers to access the Main Street. Such a review should have been started by now, but re-organisation of the Roads Department and a lack of resources has prevented it. I will be pressing for this to be made a priority for the new council.
The coming week will be a busy one with many unresolved items being brought to committees to clear the decks for the new council. Business will effectively stop on Thursday 26th April when the final council meeting takes place. It will then be full speed ahead to try and persuade those wavering voters that the way forward is to vote Conservative and keep the good work of the past sixteen months moving forward.
Des Browne apologised but did not resign. No surprise there then?
The words of the old song that “saying sorry is the hardest thing” can be rewritten for Labour as “saying sorry is something that can be done at the drop of a hat without even thinking about it”. As well as Des Browne, Tony Blair and the potato famine come to mind, but acting sorry is something else altogether. There is no doubt that the old maxim of ignoring what people say and watching what they do is the best way to judge them. I have no doubt that watching the actions of Labour Ministers will make it very easy to determine their integrity.
Last Thursday I attended a presentation by Erskine the charity which provides specialist care for ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen. When you hear about the work being done by this charity to care for those severely injured in the service of our country it is humbling.
Even more humbling is learning of the sacrifices made by servicemen and servicewomen in carrying out their duty. We should be eternally grateful and our politicians should be ensuring that no veteran has to plead for help. Help should be a matter of course and no barriers should be put in the way of the fullest recovery that veterans can make.
Another week of beautiful weather; which made walking the streets, delivering leaflets and talking to people an absolute pleasure. I reckon that I am lighter, thinner and fitter than I have been for years. Electioneering can be stressful but the exercise is wonderfully therapeutic.
Over the last four years I have published regular “In Touch” newsletters, three or four per year, with the intention of ensuring that constituents knew what I was up to on their behalf. If elected I propose to do the same for the next four years; it is not good enough to contact people only at the time of elections.
Despite the progress being made by the Conservative administration over the last sixteen months there is still disappointment that some things have not yet been fully tackled. And I acknowledge that we have only scratched the surface of what needs to be done.
Two specific concerns are parking and the seafront.
We have allocated additional funding from the civic pride fund for maintenance of the seafront, but the seasonal workers do not start until the beginning of May. This was a mistake which we must ensure does not happen again. Our seafronts should be cleaned in time for the Easter weekend. It was disgraceful that this did not happen and we will make sure that it does not happen again.
Car parking in Prestwick is a major concern. More and more residents are being inconvenienced by airport customers refusing to pay for parking at the airport and parking in residential streets in Prestwick. Up until now the council’s response is to put yellow lines down in the most vulnerable of places. While this helps those areas it has the effect of displacing the parking to streets further away from the airport. A full review of parking is needed in Prestwick to try and arrive at a plan which will prevent inconsiderate airport parking but will still allow shoppers to access the Main Street. Such a review should have been started by now, but re-organisation of the Roads Department and a lack of resources has prevented it. I will be pressing for this to be made a priority for the new council.
The coming week will be a busy one with many unresolved items being brought to committees to clear the decks for the new council. Business will effectively stop on Thursday 26th April when the final council meeting takes place. It will then be full speed ahead to try and persuade those wavering voters that the way forward is to vote Conservative and keep the good work of the past sixteen months moving forward.
Saturday 14 April 2007
Our Forces and the selling of stories
Another week spent delivering leaflets and knocking on doors. With the weather being so nice it was a great week to be outside walking the streets.
On the doorstep the disillusion with Labour is palpable. Last weeks decision by the Minister of Defence, Des Browne, to approve the selling of their stories to the tabloid newspapers by two of the sailors released by Iran has disgusted the general public who feel cheapened and humiliated by the whole affair. I can talk knowledgeably about this because I share their disgust.
The Labour Party’s obsession with appearances over substance reached a new low.
The fact that they decided within a couple of days that this decision was wrong and that it would not be allowed to happen again confirmed only that this is a Party whose only concern is public perception. Having realised that their cheap public relations stunt had backfired in their faces they did a complete turnaround without taking the time to evaluate the international repercussions of their indecision and dithering. To the rest of the world we must look like a nation without scruples led by “would be celebrities” instead of serious politicians.
For a Labour Minister to sanction the selling of stories, by serving military personnel, to tabloid newspapers is beneath contempt. How previous Labour Ministers must be squirming with embarrassment or turning in their graves.
At this time of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan our servicemen and women deserve support and encouragement and our politicians have a duty to show that leadership. I am not a great one for advocating that “heads must roll” or for seeking retribution, life is too short and there are too many causes that need our attention. In this case however, I am sorely tempted to sign up to the petition lodged on the Downing Street website, by a former naval serviceman demanding that “heads should roll”. The Prime Minister’s response that he was not interested in conducting “a witchhunt against people who acted honourably and in good faith in very difficult circumstances” just does not wash. Des Browne acted dishonourably as well as incompetently and his response to his failures will speak volumes about both his and the Prime Minister’s integrity.
If you feel strongly enough about this and want to sign up to the petition then it can be found at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Navy-media/
I look forward to posting next week's musings and promise that it will not be another rant, although who knows what will happen in the coming week.
On the doorstep the disillusion with Labour is palpable. Last weeks decision by the Minister of Defence, Des Browne, to approve the selling of their stories to the tabloid newspapers by two of the sailors released by Iran has disgusted the general public who feel cheapened and humiliated by the whole affair. I can talk knowledgeably about this because I share their disgust.
The Labour Party’s obsession with appearances over substance reached a new low.
The fact that they decided within a couple of days that this decision was wrong and that it would not be allowed to happen again confirmed only that this is a Party whose only concern is public perception. Having realised that their cheap public relations stunt had backfired in their faces they did a complete turnaround without taking the time to evaluate the international repercussions of their indecision and dithering. To the rest of the world we must look like a nation without scruples led by “would be celebrities” instead of serious politicians.
For a Labour Minister to sanction the selling of stories, by serving military personnel, to tabloid newspapers is beneath contempt. How previous Labour Ministers must be squirming with embarrassment or turning in their graves.
At this time of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan our servicemen and women deserve support and encouragement and our politicians have a duty to show that leadership. I am not a great one for advocating that “heads must roll” or for seeking retribution, life is too short and there are too many causes that need our attention. In this case however, I am sorely tempted to sign up to the petition lodged on the Downing Street website, by a former naval serviceman demanding that “heads should roll”. The Prime Minister’s response that he was not interested in conducting “a witchhunt against people who acted honourably and in good faith in very difficult circumstances” just does not wash. Des Browne acted dishonourably as well as incompetently and his response to his failures will speak volumes about both his and the Prime Minister’s integrity.
If you feel strongly enough about this and want to sign up to the petition then it can be found at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Navy-media/
I look forward to posting next week's musings and promise that it will not be another rant, although who knows what will happen in the coming week.
Sunday 8 April 2007
Labour councillors threaten viability of Prestwick Airport
Last week saw the unsavoury side of politics demonstrated all too clearly by my adversaries in the Labour party.
In a clearly cynical and calculated move Labour Councillors on South Ayrshire Councils Planning Committee last Tuesday, 3rd April 2007 colluded to reject the recommendation of the council’s professional planning officials to formally object to the planning application for a Windfarm at Dersalloch Hill, east of Straiton.
The consequence of this action is that the Scottish Executive is now not obliged to hold a Public Enquiry into the merits of building a windfarm at Darsalloch Hill.
Serious concerns had been raised by both Prestwick Air Traffic Control and Glasgow Prestwick Airport who have expressed the gravest reservations about the very viability of being able to maintain safe air traffic control if this application was to go ahead.
As the radar system cannot distinguish between a wind turbine and a flying aircraft there are two main technical problems:
1. The radar clutter caused by wind turbines on the radar screens.
2. Aircraft flying over a wind turbine could not be distinguished from the wind turbine.
So why did they reject the recommendation for a public enquiry, I hear you ask?
I can only assume that political expediency was the reason. If the windfarm goes ahead then Scottish Power will channel some funds into the Straiton and Maybole area. The Labour party are looking for votes in that area and presumably believe that the promise of Scottish Power cash will sway the voters. I suspect, and hope, that they are sadly mistaken.
Prestwick Labour councillor Mrs. Helen Moonie told the committee that she was concerned at the cost of a public enquiry to the council. She does not seem to have taken into account the cost to Prestwick in particular, and South Ayrshire in general, of any threat to the future viability of Prestwick Airport. Untold millions of pounds will be lost to the local economy if the result of the decision taken by Mrs. Moonie and her Labour colleagues is to jeopardise the thousands of jobs that depend either directly or indirectly on Prestwick Airport.
This Council Committee was the only avenue open to those whose work depends on Prestwick Airport to have their concerns about the impact on their lives raised through legal representation at a major public enquiry.
This was no sudden decision by Labour; it was a cold calculated plan to ensure that no Public Enquiry should ever take place. I believe that a three line whip was in operation which means every labour Councillor was party to this disgraceful stain on the democratic process.
In a clearly cynical and calculated move Labour Councillors on South Ayrshire Councils Planning Committee last Tuesday, 3rd April 2007 colluded to reject the recommendation of the council’s professional planning officials to formally object to the planning application for a Windfarm at Dersalloch Hill, east of Straiton.
The consequence of this action is that the Scottish Executive is now not obliged to hold a Public Enquiry into the merits of building a windfarm at Darsalloch Hill.
Serious concerns had been raised by both Prestwick Air Traffic Control and Glasgow Prestwick Airport who have expressed the gravest reservations about the very viability of being able to maintain safe air traffic control if this application was to go ahead.
As the radar system cannot distinguish between a wind turbine and a flying aircraft there are two main technical problems:
1. The radar clutter caused by wind turbines on the radar screens.
2. Aircraft flying over a wind turbine could not be distinguished from the wind turbine.
So why did they reject the recommendation for a public enquiry, I hear you ask?
I can only assume that political expediency was the reason. If the windfarm goes ahead then Scottish Power will channel some funds into the Straiton and Maybole area. The Labour party are looking for votes in that area and presumably believe that the promise of Scottish Power cash will sway the voters. I suspect, and hope, that they are sadly mistaken.
Prestwick Labour councillor Mrs. Helen Moonie told the committee that she was concerned at the cost of a public enquiry to the council. She does not seem to have taken into account the cost to Prestwick in particular, and South Ayrshire in general, of any threat to the future viability of Prestwick Airport. Untold millions of pounds will be lost to the local economy if the result of the decision taken by Mrs. Moonie and her Labour colleagues is to jeopardise the thousands of jobs that depend either directly or indirectly on Prestwick Airport.
This Council Committee was the only avenue open to those whose work depends on Prestwick Airport to have their concerns about the impact on their lives raised through legal representation at a major public enquiry.
This was no sudden decision by Labour; it was a cold calculated plan to ensure that no Public Enquiry should ever take place. I believe that a three line whip was in operation which means every labour Councillor was party to this disgraceful stain on the democratic process.
Saturday 31 March 2007
Litter Pick
Prestwick North Community Council organised a litter pick for last Saturday, 24th March.
This intiative was prompted by a desire not only to clean up the town, but to let the residents know that the community council did not just meet once a month to talk, but actually did take action where a need was identified, and it was identified that outwith the Main Street litter did accumulate and was not always quickly removed. Indeed, as there is no street sweeper at the weekend, often a Saturday morning sees the Main Street pretty untidy with the left overs from Friday night.
Prestwick North community council and Prestwick South communiy council both work very hard on behalf of Prestwick but because the work takes place, modestly, in the background it is not always recognised.
Anyway, last Saturday morning saw a bunch of us gathered at Sommefields car park ready to do business. We were each given a pair of gloves, a bright yellow jacket and a 'picker up' and sent on our way, after gettng our picture taken.
A Lady from Troon who cycles through Prestwick on her way to work each day had written to me complaining about the litter in the lane between Monkton Court and Prestwick Academy. She had also offered to help clean it up and true to her word she appeared on Saturday morning ready for action. So, after banging my head against the branch of a tree and drawing blood, she and I set off for the lane and filled five plastic bags of litter.
Once we had finished it was with some satisfaction that we surveyed the nice clean lane, congratulated one another and set off home after taking the litter to the recycling centre.
The one disappointment was the passers-by who remarked that the council should be doing the cleaning and not us as individuals. Well they may well be right but I believe that there is room for public spirited individuals to lend a hand when needed.
The big task is to persuade those who drop litter that it doesn't have to be like that and they are allowed to take it home with them.
Bye 'til next week.
This intiative was prompted by a desire not only to clean up the town, but to let the residents know that the community council did not just meet once a month to talk, but actually did take action where a need was identified, and it was identified that outwith the Main Street litter did accumulate and was not always quickly removed. Indeed, as there is no street sweeper at the weekend, often a Saturday morning sees the Main Street pretty untidy with the left overs from Friday night.
Prestwick North community council and Prestwick South communiy council both work very hard on behalf of Prestwick but because the work takes place, modestly, in the background it is not always recognised.
Anyway, last Saturday morning saw a bunch of us gathered at Sommefields car park ready to do business. We were each given a pair of gloves, a bright yellow jacket and a 'picker up' and sent on our way, after gettng our picture taken.
A Lady from Troon who cycles through Prestwick on her way to work each day had written to me complaining about the litter in the lane between Monkton Court and Prestwick Academy. She had also offered to help clean it up and true to her word she appeared on Saturday morning ready for action. So, after banging my head against the branch of a tree and drawing blood, she and I set off for the lane and filled five plastic bags of litter.
Once we had finished it was with some satisfaction that we surveyed the nice clean lane, congratulated one another and set off home after taking the litter to the recycling centre.
The one disappointment was the passers-by who remarked that the council should be doing the cleaning and not us as individuals. Well they may well be right but I believe that there is room for public spirited individuals to lend a hand when needed.
The big task is to persuade those who drop litter that it doesn't have to be like that and they are allowed to take it home with them.
Bye 'til next week.
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