£1m capital investment per Council Ward to revamp South Ayrshire's Spaces and Places

This is an archived article from 27 April 2023. 

South Ayrshire Council will spend £1m on projects that will see improvements in each of its eight wards over the next four years.

At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting (25 April 2023), Councillors gave officers the go-ahead to identify potential Ward Capital Projects that will enhance our spaces and places and promote civic and community pride across South Ayrshire.

Each £1m allocation is from our capital budget.  This means that the funds can only be spent on fixed assets or one-time, larger purchases that have a lasting legacy, such as multi-use games areas (MUGA), outdoor seating and road resurfacing.  

Current 'Place Plans' for each ward area and other completed consultations, such as charettes, will be reviewed to pinpoint potential projects, meaning communities the length and breadth of South Ayrshire will benefit from the targeted investment.

Once the Place Plans have been reviewed, officers will meet with Elected Members from each ward to provide them with details of the identified projects.  They'll also discuss and consider any other local aspirations for capital investment improvements. 

When this stage is complete, the finalised project list for each ward will be circulated to Community Councils.  This will allow Community Councils to share the detail of the upcoming projects with residents, so everyone can look forward to seeing improvements in their area.

Next steps will involve the submission of the project list to the Council's Capital Asset Management Group for approval.  The final stage of the approval process will take place at the meeting of full Council on 29 June 2023.  If approved, work on the Ward Capital Projects will kick off from July 2023.

South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Finance, Human Resources and ICT, Councillor Ian Davis said: "The Ward Capital Projects investment is great news for communities the length and breadth of South Ayrshire.  This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance our spaces and places, and make a tangible difference to local people and visitors to the area."

South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Buildings, Housing and Environment, Councillor Martin Kilbride, said: "This is an exciting time for the Council and South Ayrshire residents alike, as everyone will benefit from the improvements this funding will see.  As the Ward Capital Projects begin to take shape, people will begin to notice a real difference in their communities, which is exactly what we want to achieve through this investment."

South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Developing South Ayrshire, Councillor Bob Shields, said: "I'm delighted to see initial progress around this fantastic investment in our communities.  I'm a proud resident of South Ayrshire and instilling that sense of community pride throughout our towns and villages is a key part of this initiative.  I'll look forward to working with officers as potential Ward Capital Projects are identified and the work is carried out."

Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Martin Dowey, said: "£1m capital spend in each ward means a significant investment in the area as a whole.  I'm sure residents will look forward to seeing the plans unfold and Ward Capital Projects coming to fruition in their communities over the next four years."