A community group hoping to see Ayr transformed into a top tourist attraction want Ayrshire Live readers to share their views to help shape the town’s future.
The Museum of Ayrshire group hope to purchase the former Ayr Grammar School, on Ayr’s Midton Road, and turn it into a cultural and historical hub for others to learn about the region.
South Ayrshire Council has put the former school on the open market with a closing bid date of next Thursday, July 22.
Museum of Ayrshire, who have applied to the Scottish Land Fund to help with their bid, want readers to give their feedback on the proposed plans.
The group’s most up-to-date plans and possible room displays hope to begin at Geology and the Ice Age period right through to modern-day Ayrshire and the changes the region has seen over the past 60 years.
Display rooms could include: an activity room for children to explore weaving, grinding corn, and net making; a look at the Bronze Age Celts exploring important settlements at Drybridge and Doonfoot – complete with a construction of replica round-house – The Ayrshire Abbeys and Monasteries and Cromwell’s Citadel and the Auld Kirk.
A look at the Roman presence within Ayrshire, including Fort at Loudon Hill and Marching Camps at Ayr and Girvan; the Industrial Revolution looking at Ayrshire’s rich coal mining history; and the coming of Ayrshire railways and harbours could also be on the bill.
A lecture hall, multi-use hall, gift shop and tearoom also feature as part of the proposals.
Jimmy Begg, secretary of Museum of Ayrshire, said: “While we have acquired a good input of anecdotal and Facebook support, we have been prevented from holding public consultation meetings due to Covid restrictions.
“Any feedback support for the Grammar/Museum of Ayrshire/community facility for South Ayr that we can generate will be most valuable.
“Any bid for council owned property must be assessed and judged by the council on a “Best Value with Weightings” basis – which means that the impact and benefits to the local community in social welfare, education, environment, and tourism, must be taken carefully into account.
“The Grammar School project fits all these criteria.”
Dr Begg previously told how the proposed centre would “entertain and educate children and adults about their heritage”, and would also “be a fantastic tourist day visitor attraction, especially in wet weather”.
He added: “This new museum would work in close co-operation with all other museums and visitor attractions, and act as a hub from which to inform and direct visitors to many other excellent facilities in Ayrshire and south-west Scotland.”
All responses should be sent to: info@museumofayrshire.org
The closing date for the sale of the former Ayr Grammar School is Thursday, July 22 at 12noon. Interested parties can view more info at https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/documents/property_212.pdf
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