A campaign that fought for a community space that offers more…
The Ayr Riverside Campaign was a passion project where I fought hard for a better future for the heart of my community
Ayr Riverside Campaign
Aim: To convince the local councillers to scrap their plans for a concrete office building in the large demolition area on the main high street. The aim was to convince them to instead invest in a civic square and community multi use space that encouraged people to not only come to the town centre but also stay and enjoy the riverside.
Results; South Ayrshire Council scrapped the plan to build offices and built a civic square and community centre called the “Cutty-Sark Centre” that very closely resembles the plan I presented to them throughout the campaign.
Background
Ayr as a town, like many in the UK, has struggled to keep their high street alive, there had been some projects to try and encourage people to come back to the high street but the picture was still grim. When the it was announced that the area that had formerly been a Woolworths shopping centre on the riverside, was going to be used to build concrete offices for the council there was outrage. I decided to listen to the public, reading their feedback and using my experience of living and working on other community projects in the town to inform a campaign for the space to be used for the community.
Ayr as a town is well known as the birthplace of famous bard Robert Burns, and as a holiday town for people on the west of Scotland. It had two universities and colleges, a couple of night clubs, many pubs, a crumbing art deco cinema and a bowling alley. As a student there for 8 years, I noticed that whilst many people came to the highstreet, there wasn’t an ideal place in the town centre for events like their farmers market and local festivals and the only place to sit and eat your lunch was the cemetery!
DISCOVERY
First I took note of what people left as feedback regarding the the unveiled plans for office buildings. I then researched what other communities are doing to redesign their high streets for the community and I researched the historical significance of the Ayr Riverside Plot.
SKETCHING AN ALTERNITIVE
From there and using maps and my own photos of the area, I sketched a possaible alternitive that incorperated many of the ideas, and put emphasis on the piece of land being used to enrich the community experience.
IMPLEMENTATION
Working with Catherine Hunter, a local journalist, we then talked to the councillers from every political party and campaigned at several town hall events to encourage the community to think bigger, better and more long term for the future of the Ayr Riverside.
Campaign Follow Up
As a campaigner, I fought for as long as I could and knowing that the council had changed their decision and hand now held a public consultation with a range of possible alternitives and ideas for the town, I was able to step back and focus on my work in another part of Scotland.
In March 2023, The “Cutty-Sark Centre” and community space was unveiled to the public. I am proud to have been part of the driving force for this campaign and to see the community recive a space and resource that will enrich the community experince for generations to come!
