South Ayrshire Council has responded well to the concerns about safety issues with the former Cooperative building and 31 Whitehall which had forced the closure of the public conveniences in the town. In an update on progress, Mark Fletcher, chair of Maybole Community Council, told us, "As you can see from the photos, 31 has now been demolished and the tenders for the old Co-op are being reviewed at present and the contract will be awarded soon. South Ayrshire council have granted the extra money required for the asbestos-based demolition so work can progress swiftly."

He continued, "The long awaited bypass is still progressing and at a meeting in Maybole the Roads Manager from the council Kevin Braidwood reported that he was In regular meetings with Amey, Transport Scotland and the planners. "Other issues of road safety in around Maybole have been discussed particularly regarding diversions when the A77 has to be closed and alternative suggestions are being reviewed.

Concerns had been raised recently by the community council regarding safety outside our schools and zig-zags have been reprinted and parking enforcements will be maintained at these areas. Bollards at the station to stop cars crossing the footpath have been knocked down and will be replaced shortly."

He also said that the community council is reviving the town regeneration committee and will start meetings with the newly appointed Town Improvement Manager for South Ayrshire council this month. "We are looking for input from community groups to help shape the high street of the future Maybole, particularly in light of the bypass," he said. "It is important to start looking at this now and not waiting for the bypass. We will be contacting the local businesses, schools, Opportunities in Retirement, and as many other groups as we can. "If anyone is interested in shaping the future of the High Street and indeed other areas of the town then please let us know.

"There are many other projects ongoing but we felt it appropriate to inform on some of the bigger issues. The community council currently has two vacancies and if anyone is interested in joining us please get in touch."  

South Ayrshire Council have announced a review into public conveniences. Maybole Community Council are alarmed to see that where most communities will either have services maintained or even improved, Maybole potentially faces a closure on a permanent basis of the facilities in Whitehall. The paper does say that the alternative facility in Maybole would be the Carrick Centre as part of the comfort scheme, although the opening hours of the centre are considerably less than the council facility, it is also away from the A77 so coaches full of football fans and lorry drivers, or indeed visitors would not be aware of the Carrick Centre.

Maybole like other communities in Carrick have been actively involved with a tourism project and have also just got into discussions with the new town centre officer from South Ayrshire, regarding the regeneration of the town centre and High Street. We have also been involved and are awaiting the outcome of the rural 21 project.  All of this is to reinvigorate the town centre and promote the use of our area. Surely a closure of a public convenience is detrimental to the town and this is why we have written to the Council Leader Bill Mckintosh and also the Chief Executive Eileen Howat to ask for a full consultation that we would want to be involved in.

Further news is the review of polling stations in Maybole.  A consultation is underway as South Ayrshire council want to move polling stations out of schools because of the obvious disruption this causes.  The proposal is that instead of Gardenrose Primary they would use the Carrick Centre and instead of Cairn Primary they would use Maybole Town Hall. The community council has been asked to comment and we would value any comments from the community. This can be done by contacting our  secretary or through our Facebook page which is Maybole community council.