Action plan launched to transform Ayr Town Centre

South Ayrshire Council has developed an action plan to drive forward the transformation of Ayr Town Centre.Initially the plan will help the Council and partners to develop and then deliver three key projects – an events space at the riverside, a new leisure centre in the high street and improvements to the town centre’s public realm.The plan reflects the views of the 2,700 people who completed a survey as part of the ‘Ayr Your Views’ consultation late last year.Turning the riverside site into an exciting space for events, pop-up markets, exhibitions and performances proved popular in the survey, with 62% of those taking part supporting the idea. The next steps will be to appoint a design team who will progress plans before further public consultation and then redevelopment of the site.Plans to build a new leisure centre in the town centre will also be progressed. The Arran Mall is the preferred location for the development with opportunity to link up with a leisure development at the Kyle Centre featuring a cinema, and other recreational facilities. Bringing a leisure facility into the centre of Ayr would address issues expressed during the consultation where people said the Citadel leisure centre is too remote and not easy to access, especially for younger people.The third project to be advanced at this stage is to improve the Public Realm in Ayr with better pedestrian and cycle links in the town. The Council has submitted a bid for part funding to sustainable transport experts Sustrans. This project aims to dramatically improve the main entrances to Ayr at Sandgate and High St, providing high quality public realm improvements. This will include upgrading street and footpath surfaces and adding street furniture, lighting, cycle facilities and signage to substantially improve the look of the area together with travel improvements more generally.All three projects will be the subject of further public consultation as the schemes are developed.