January 2012

Double Joy. The first church service to be held in the newly opened Carrick Centre in Maybole was doubly joyful as it included the baptism of the infant son of Maybole man Colin Banyard and his Polish wife, Joanna. The couple, who met while employed on a cruise liner, came from their home in Poland with many friends and relatives to have baby Alexander baptised in grandmother Kate Banyard’s home church. By chance the Carrick Centre was completed just in time to accommodate the event. more

Maybole Masterplan: Hard on the heels of a proposal by Tesco to build a new supermarket in Maybole, community councillors learned last week of an even more ambitious plan for developing the town, this time in the Crosshill Road area. John Duff and Norman Geddes attended the Maybole Community Council’s January meeting and said their local clients had plans for development which would hopefully be included in the imminent Local Development Plan. The Tesco planning application for a supermarket in Cassillis Road, however, had meant that they had to bring forward their plans instead of waiting for the Plan to be published. Mr Duff said that their plans, prepared by local landowners in the Maybole area, would include a proposal to build 500 houses, to include houses for owner occupation and also affordable housing, all to be developed in partnership with the community council and South Ayrshire Council. more

Following the latest update on a bypass for Maybole, Peter Mason has decided to stand down as chair of the Bypass Committee. At a meeting of the committee last week Mr Mason reported that Transport Scotland intends to appoint consultants by April 2012 to assist in the preparation of this long-awaited scheme, with a view to publishing draft orders in autumn 2013. He feels now that he has taken the project as far as he can and retiring from his position although he wants to remain on the committee. Mr Mason said, “When I first started on Maybole Community Council I had all good intentions of working for a bypass for the town. “There was no bypass committee as such, no concentrated effort to gain a bypass and in 1999 the community council appointed me to be chair of the bypass committee. “Over the years we have been to the Scottish Parliament a few times and closed the A77 going through Maybole a few times. more

Lodge St John Maybole Number 11 held their annual installation on Friday 6th January. The New Right Worshipful Master is Bro. William R Cuthbert and the ceremony was a family affair, as his installing masters included both his father and his uncle. The installing board was Bro W F T Cuthbert (his Father), Bro Alistair Hastings PM and Brother John Priest PM (his Uncle). more

Last year a group of pupils involved in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme at Carrick Academy, Maybole succeeded in building a 16ft Canadian canoe. For the 2011/12 school year the Design & Technology Department at Carrick Academy pushed the boat out a bit further, offering this year’s 6th year a chance to build a St Ayles Skiff.

The course reached a major milestone recently and the hull is now finished. The occasion was celebrated by having a turning over ceremony, where the jig used to form the hull was discarded and the boat turned over to start work on the internals. The internal construction will start this month with a view to completing the build by the Easter Holidays 2012. The large vessel being constructed in the department has created a real buzz with all involved really enjoying the experience. more

Does your organisation need up to £500? If so, Maybole Community Council would like to hear from you as has had a fund of that amount to distribute. This funding has been made available via Carrick Community Councils’ Forum (CCCF) and Carrick Futures. When Carrick Futures was set up to administer community benefit funds from the Arecleoch and Markhill windfarms, the directors agreed that 20% of the funds should go to projects in the "wider Carrick" area. "Wider Carrick" refers to those communities that are part of the CCCF but are not close to the windfarms - i.e. are not part of the "main benefit" area. The community councils of Ballantrae, Barr, Barrhill, Colmonell & Lendalfoot, Girvan, Pinwherry & Pinmore are the main benefit area. more

More good news for new Residents Association. The recently formed Covenanters Gait Residents Association in Maybole applied for £1000 from Central Scotland Green Network to landscape their estate which the developer had left unfinished. Chairman Peter Mason tells us that the Association has just heard that they have been successful. He added, “With this new funding In place and also with an application put into the Woodlands Trust for free trees and with BCTV to assist and guide the association on planting etc., work is expected to start at the beginning of February. “In total, there could be a total of 840 hedging trees which will provide year-round colour" and include hawthorn, hazel, birch, rowan, cherry and dogwood. more

“Jenny Graham was someone who possibly didn’t appreciate how cherished she was”. That was the opening remark by Rev Brian Hendrie at her funeral last Thursday, January 12, the first to be held in the new Carrick Centre. Mr Hendrie continued, “That’s because Jenny’s main motivation in life was to serve other folk and not to count the cost or to seek the limelight. “Jenny didn’t consider herself particularly special, but perhaps it’s only now that we can fully appreciate how special she was and the legacy she has left behind.” He said he had spoken with several people since Jenny’s death on Hogmanay and, quite independently of each other, the same phrase has cropped up more than once – “music was her life”. more

Maybole Historical Society’s next meeting will be held on Monday February 6 in The Castle at 7.30pm. Speaker will be Catherine Czerkawska who will be speaking about the “History of Ayrshire White Work”. In 1814 Lady Marie Montgomerie travelled from Europe to her family home in Ayrshire, bringing with her a French baby gown, beautifully embroidered. She lent it to her friend Mrs Jamieson, who was married to an Ayr cotton agent. Mrs Jamieson copied the stitches, and then began to teach this fine ‘sewed muslin’ with needlepoint fillings to women from the small towns and villages round Ayr, including Maybole. The work was sometimes known as spriggin from one of the characteristic stitches, which produced a decorative sprig, like a little leafy branch, or floo’erin because of the dense, but delicately floral nature of the embroidery. more

It was a devastating day and the roof literally did fall in. Allison Blane had been working in Maybole High Street’s “Cutting and Beauty Room” from June 2011 and decided to formally take out a lease on the shop from November 1. On November 3 she got the official paperwork though the post and that day the chimney breast collapsed and fell through the roof which then fell through the ceiling of the Beauty Room. Allison told us, “This resulted in the whole back wall having to be removed and rebuilt. The premises was then refurbished and had a whole new layout which we had a lot of input to. “The construction work took eight weeks and was carried out by McWhirter of Dailly. “I was gutted at the time but really glad no one was injured. For the 11 weeks that Ainsley Gallacher (the beautician) and I were out of the salon we were lucky to be given a room each from Christine Brown at Helios and we owe her huge thanks. “Our clients were so understanding that we had a champagne opening and a free raffle to thank them for their patience and support. We are now reopened and welcome old and new clients to our Hairdressing and Beauty salon.” Photo shows the devastation and also the official champagne reception to mark the re-opening. Minnie Mouse was the special guest who turned up. Allison is the hairdresser and Ainsley is the beautician

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Double Joy. The first church service to be held in the newly opened Carrick Centre in Maybole was doubly joyful as it included the baptism of the infant son of Maybole man Colin Banyard and his Polish wife, Joanna. The couple, who met while employed on a cruise liner, came from their home in Poland with many friends and relatives to have baby Alexander baptised in grandmother Kate Banyard’s home church. By chance the Carrick Centre was completed just in time to accommodate the event.

The service was also attended by many non-residents who had a connection to either Maybole West or Maybole Old and the Moderator of Ayr Presbytery, Rev Bill Mackie and his wife Ina who is well known in Guiding circles In this talk, Rev Brian Hendrie referred to the risk which had been taken in embarking on the project 10 years ago and the importance of community outreach in the future. He pointed out that much was still to be done and that this was “ a work in progress”.

In his view the success of the venture depended on the centre being open and in use seven days a week. In this he echoed the instruction given to the organising committee by the Trustees of the Church of Scotland at the start of the project. Before the Centre can be used to its full potential, funds still have to be raised to install good quality sound and vision equipment in order that the extension into the café area can be used for big events.

Hard on the heels of a proposal by Tesco to build a new supermarket in Maybole, community councillors learned last week of an even more ambitious plan for developing the town, this time in the Crosshill Road area. John Duff and Norman Geddes attended the Maybole Community Council’s January meeting and said their local clients had plans for development which would hopefully be included in the imminent Local Development Plan. The Tesco planning application for a supermarket in Cassillis Road, however, had meant that they had to bring forward their plans instead of waiting for the Plan to be published.

Mr Duff said that their plans, prepared by local landowners in the Maybole area, would include a proposal to build 500 houses, to include houses for owner occupation and also affordable housing, all to be developed in partnership with the community council and South Ayrshire Council. In addition, there would be a supermarket of approximately 10,000 sq ft creating 60 jobs; a nursing home with 80 beds and 80 jobs; a car park for the cemetery; car parking to serve the town centre; and foot path links to the town centre.

He added that the food retail outlet was important to their scheme and would provide financial support for much of the community gain and they ideally would welcome Maybole Community Council’s support for these proposals. At the least, he asked for community council support that both proposals were considered at the same time and the proposals by TESCO were not considered in isolation.

He also asked if they could work with the community council in holding a workshop on their proposals for local people to comment and make their contributions and suggested that the Spring might be an appropriate time. Afterwards, community councillors raised the matter with South Ayrshire councillors Brian Connolly, Ann Galbraith and Sandra Goldie who had not attended the meeting with the planners.

Councillor Connolly undertook to get in touch with the Planning Department to clarify several points. One of these was that it appeared that the Cassillis Road application had been changed to an 'application in principle' and all related documents from the full application had been removed from the SAC planning web-site.

Other points raised included:

a. What is the time-scale for a likely decision on the Cassillis Road application?

b. As the original application has changed, should this have been dealt with as a new application and the dates re-set from the new application?

c. Will the application be dealt with utilising delegated powers?

d. Will Transport Scotland approval be required for an 'application in principle'?

e. Does the community council have a role in offering their support for any individual application?

Community councillors felt that this is a vitally important development in the town and they agreed to continue their discussion to their General Purposes Committee on Monday January 16.

Following the latest update on a bypass for Maybole, Peter Mason has decided to stand down as chair of the Bypass Committee. At a meeting of the committee last week Mr Mason reported that Transport Scotland intends to appoint consultants by April 2012 to assist in the preparation of this long-awaited scheme, with a view to publishing draft orders in autumn 2013. He feels now that he has taken the project as far as he can and retiring from his position although he wants to remain on the committee.

Mr Mason said, “When I first started on Maybole Community Council I had all good intentions of working for a bypass for the town. “There was no bypass committee as such, no concentrated effort to gain a bypass and in 1999 the community council appointed me to be chair of the bypass committee. “Over the years we have been to the Scottish Parliament a few times and closed the A77 going through Maybole a few times.

“We started with a few of us who were only community councillors but the committee grew. We have met every transport minister, every candidate who was standing for election in Maybole and have pressed our case for a bypass at every opportunity to anyone who would listen to us.

“We have had full backing from local politicians, and also South Ayrshire Council; we have produced two different types of car stickers; handed out leaflets; been on the radio, and in the newspapers a few times. We took every opportunity to raise the profile of a bypass for Maybole

“Several years ago there was a Business Association in Maybole who were also interested in a bypass so we joined forces with them. “Over the years there have been several members of the public on the committee and all have been excellent, bringing new ideas and thoughts on the way the committee should be shaped. “All this added to the success of the bypass committee and the members of the public are essential to the good running of the committee and should never be forgotten for the part they played in this.

“When we first started we were told by members of the public, “Why waste your time? We are never getting a bypass for Maybole. “We were told to stop dreaming; wake up, you are making no difference.” “We stuck to what we thought and worked away over the years and wore down the doubters, and even won a few around that they now work for a bypass for Maybole.”

He continued, “As I said, my dream was a bypass for Maybole; the committee have taken that dream to a reality. It is now on the statute books that we are getting a bypass. “I now feel as if my task is completed. We are getting a bypass now, no doubts, no maybes. “The only thing that is in any doubt is when. “For this reason, I feel it is now time to step down as chair of this committee; my task is complete.

“The only thing left for me to do is to thank everybody who was involved with the bypass committee over the years - David Kiltie for all his help and advice when times were really rough, and to thank every member of the present committee for all their help. “I wish to remain a member of the committee if that is acceptable to members.” David Kiltie, chair of Maybole Community Council, said he was sorry to see Mr Mason standing down and added that he felt the town owed him its thanks for all his efforts over many years.

Last week members of Maybole Community Council learned of the next stage towards a bypass for the town. Transport Scotland wrote the community council to say they had been asked by Alex Salmond to get in touch following on from the First Minister's recent announcement about progress.

The letter said, “We now intend to appoint consultants by April 2012 to assist in the preparation of this long-awaited scheme, with a view to publishing draft orders in autumn 2013. “The decision to proceed with the Maybole Bypass underlines our commitment to fulfilling the existing programme of A77 schemes in the short term, but also builds on that commitment to a longer term programme of investment in South West Scotland.”

Lodge St John Maybole Number 11 held their annual installation on Friday 6th January. The New Right Worshipful Master is Bro. William R Cuthbert and the ceremony was a family affair, as his installing masters included both his father and his uncle. The installing board was Bro W F T Cuthbert (his Father), Bro Alistair Hastings PM and Brother John Priest PM (his Uncle). Brother William takes the chair exactly 20 years after his father held the same office. The event was well attended, with a large number of visiting brethren being welcomed into the lodge.

The office bearers for 2012 are: RWM Bro W R Cuthbert; Depute Master Bro Peter Ogg PM; Substitute Master Bro J T Dickie PM; Worshipful Senior Warden Bro S. Clark; Worshipful Junior Warden Bro J Priest PM; Senior Deacon Bro A S Cuthbert; Junior Deacon Bro J McClung; Secretary Bro WFT Cuthbert PM; Treasurer Bro D A McIntyre PM; Chaplain Bro A Hastings PM; Jeweller Bro J Robertson; Architect Bro JF Gray PM; Marshall Bro R Simson PM; Director of Ceremonies Bro T Barton PM; Librarian Bro S Docherty; Organist Bro R Geddes; Sword Bearer Bro A D McCulloch; Bible Bearer Bro M McEwan; Inner Guard Bro B Stevenson and Tyler Bro J Sargent.

Carrick Coastal Rowing Initiative. Last year a group of pupils involved in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme at Carrick Academy, Maybole succeeded in building a 16ft Canadian canoe. For the 2011/12 school year the Design & Technology Department at Carrick Academy pushed the boat out a bit further, offering this year’s 6th year a chance to build a St Ayles Skiff.

The course reached a major milestone recently and the hull is now finished. The occasion was celebrated by having a turning over ceremony, where the jig used to form the hull was discarded and the boat turned over to start work on the internals. The internal construction will start this month with a view to completing the build by the Easter Holidays 2012. The large vessel being constructed in the department has created a real buzz with all involved really enjoying the experience.

When complete the boat will be used by Carrick pupils and local communities for competition and recreation. Project leader Niall McGinnis told us, “It all went well with nobody being squashed! We used the opportunity to invite a whole host of local people and to promote the newly formed “Carrick Coastal Rowing Club”.

“Getting the boat ready for the day was touch and go, with extra hours needed to reach the deadline, but it was worthwhile with the ceremony receiving a great turnout with lots of positive remarks.” Henry Anderson added, “The Carrick Coastal Rowing Project is part of an initiative that started in Anstruther Fife just over two years ago with the aim of promoting community boat building and coastal rowing throughout Scottish coastal settlements.

“So far over 30 St. Ayles skiffs have been built from kits designed by Ian Oughtred including one in Troon and it is hoped this will be joined by the new skiff being built at Carrick Academy which will become the first boat of the new Carrick Coastal Rowing Club, rowing out of Maidens. “As well as crews made up of senior pupils from Carrick Academy, there will be local crews of men and women competing in an already established series of regattas held throughout the summer in Scotland.

“It is hoped that races will take place during the next Maidens Harbour Gala in August. Eventually a rowing event from Croy Shore to Maidens past Culzean Castle will be held at the same time each year. “Thanks go to Mr Niall McGinnis, Mr Brian Auld and the senior pupils of Carrick Academy who have been building the first skiff since last June as part of the sixth year timetable.

“This will be launched in early May in Maidens Harbour. Each St. Ayles skiff has four rowers and a cox and is 22 foot long.”
A meeting of the new Carrick Coastal Rowing Club will be held in Maidens in early February to build up local interest in the community and attract members. Anyone interested in building small wooden boats or rowing is invited to attend.

Mr Anderson also told us that the recently formed Troon Coastal Rowing Club have thrown down the gauntlet for a race in the summer including a Marr College v Carrick Academy match. He said, “The Ailsa Shipyard may have vanished from Culzean, Maidens and Troon harbours some years ago, this hopefully will bring back some of the memories of a once thriving industry.

“Funding is currently being sought to buy more kits - it costs approximately £3000 to build each boat.”
Further information can be obtained by contacting Henry Anderson at 01655770242 or from henry.craigard@googlemail.com or contact Niall McGinnis at Carrick Academy. Here is a link to the national rowing initiative: http://scottishcoastalrowing.org/

Pictured are the 6th year pupils Hollie Lucas, Connor Riggans, Robie McCreath, Dale Hamilton, Daniel Roulston and Blair Jardine; Henry Anderson, project leader Niall McGinnis, Technician Brian Auld, and two senior volunteers who help out for two hours a week John McGinnis and Alex Kelly.

Does your organisation need up to £500? If so, Maybole Community Council would like to hear from you as has had a fund of that amount to distribute. This funding has been made available via Carrick Community Councils’ Forum (CCCF) and Carrick Futures. When Carrick Futures was set up to administer community benefit funds from the Arecleoch and Markhill windfarms, the directors agreed that 20% of the funds should go to projects in the "wider Carrick" area. "Wider Carrick" refers to those communities that are part of the CCCF but are not close to the windfarms - i.e. are not part of the "main benefit" area. The community councils of Ballantrae, Barr, Barrhill, Colmonell & Lendalfoot, Girvan, Pinwherry & Pinmore are the main benefit area.

The remaining community councils within the CCCF are the wider area: i.e. Dailly; Dunure; Crosshill, Kirkmichael & Straiton; Kirkoswald, Maidens & Turnberry; Maybole. From the outset, the directors of Carrick Futures agreed that any projects that they would fund in the wider area would have to have the approval of the CCCF. Several such projects have been funded - including some in individual communities and some proposed by the CCCF itself.

More recently, discussion between the CCCF and Carrick Futures resulted in an agreement that small grants funding should be allocated directly to community councils in the wider area. The maximum amount of Carrick Futures funding that any one project can receive from the small grants fund is £500 and Maybole Community Council is now inviting any group in the town to get in touch to let them know what the project is and how much money is being requested. Contact should be to Mrs Anne Walker, Secretary, 35 McAdam Way, Maybole.

Funding Workshops in Maybole are being set up by the local community council and Voluntary Action South Ayrshire (VASA) next month. Two sessions will be held on Thursday February 23 in Maybole Town Hall from 1.30pm to 3.30pm and from 7.30pm until 9.30pm. The workshops are free and the idea is o help small, voluntary and community organisations in the Carrick/South Ayrshire area develop successful applications for funding.

Each session will look at constitutions, developing need, planning and costing projects, identifying beneficiaries, seeking sources of funding, planning fundraising, designing a fundable project, identifying sources of funding, completing the application form, and how to get help. Organisers say that by the end of this workshop local groups will be able to identify what funding they need, how they are going to raise it and where they can look for support.

For further information contact: VASA, 01292 281800 or anne@voluntaryactionsouthayrshire.org.uk Maybole Community Council 07807540324 or alan.murray49@btinternet.com

More good news for new Residents Association. The recently formed Covenanters Gait Residents Association in Maybole applied for £1000 from Central Scotland Green Network to landscape their estate which the developer had left unfinished. Chairman Peter Mason tells us that the Association has just heard that they have been successful. He added, “With this new funding In place and also with an application put into the Woodlands Trust for free trees and with BCTV to assist and guide the association on planting etc., work is expected to start at the beginning of February. “In total, there could be a total of 840 hedging trees which will provide year-round colour" and include hawthorn, hazel, birch, rowan, cherry and dogwood.

The Woodland Trust said, “From delicate spring blossom and rosy berries to a vibrant display of fiery autumn colours, the community 'year-round colour' pack contains a mix of species specially chosen to attract native wildlife and provide people with a stunning visual display of colour to enjoy in every season." Mr Mason continued, “These trees can be planted to form hedging along the pathways, or could be planted as a border or clusters in the central area. The trees are very small when delivered, usually around 50cm in length, so don’t require much effort for planting, and also very little maintenance.”

There was other good news for residents from South Ayrshire Roads Department who have told the developer that he has until the start of January to get the road in Burns Drive complete or they are drawing in the bond they hold to ensure the road is completed, or they will have the work started using the bond they hold. The Association is now looking at further funding opportunities to do even more work to improve the area they live in and Mr Mason claims this “just goes to prove people power does work , this group is taking matters into their own hands and making things work for them.”

Loch Lomond RFC Vs Carrick RFC

Carrick travelled to Loch Lomond for the first league match of 2012. This was Carrick’s first league match since the 26th November and with Loch Lomond being in 4th position in the league it was always going to be a difficult fixture. The conditions were perfect for good rugby even if the pitch was a bit on the heavy side. Carrick started the game well, playing downhill in the first half but it was Loch Lomond who got the first points on the board with a penalty after 15 minutes. This seemed to kick Carrick into gear and they started playing more of the game in the Loch Lomond half. Carrick came close on a number of occasions but a combination of good defence by Loch Lomond and some strange refereeing decisions were unable to get points on the board. On 35 minutes Loch Lomond were making their way into Carrick territory when Carrick No10 young Connor Wyllie made an interception on a Loch Lomond pass and ran all the way to score a well earned try under the posts which Connor also converted to make the score 7 – 3 to Carrick.

The second half started with Carrick playing slightly up hill and they started well putting pressure on Loch Lomond and were awarded a penalty after 5 minutes which Connor Wyllie scored to make it 10 – 3 to Carrick. Loch Lomond then made ground into the Carrick 22 and managed to score an unconverted try which made the score 10 – 8 to Carrick. The referee was making some very strange decisions and not many of them in Carrick’s favour. However, Carrick managed to make ground into the Loch Lomond half and were awarded a penalty which Connor Wyllie converted to make the score 13 – 8 to Carrick. For the following 15 minutes most of the game was played in the middle of the park with no side really threatening to score. The referee did not help the game with some awful decisions which affected both teams. However, after about 70 minutes the referee allowed a number of Loch Lomond offences to go unpunished which resulted in a Loch Lomond try which should not have been allowed to stand as three Loch Lomond players blocked the ball carrier and pulled him over the line to score! Fortunately the try was unconverted and the game ended at 13 points each. Carrick played well and put a lot of work and effort into the game and deserved to win the game.