New Street Carpark Shocker !!

[Vivc113]

Hi.

I see the New St carpark is set to close, leaving difficulties for older folk to gain access to nearby shops.

This will happen soon.

[5siamese7]

Methinks this is temporary. The demolition of the sheltered housing across the road is going to happen soon and the car park will be closed whilst this is happening.

[bonzo]

I read about this the other week. I think it should be the remaining shopkeepers who should be worried because in my eyes people would rather drive to the next town instead of walking to their local shops.

[5siamese7]

Its in this weeks Herald. The car park is privately owned and the company do not wish to spend any money on it and are closing it down on the 14th of February. North Ayrshire Council are taking nothing to do with it because of financial restraints. Poor old Stinston let down again.

[michaelm]

Just as I thought Bill, nowt to do with sheltered housing.

Haven't seen the Herald article yet.

The shameless south of the border based company who own this car park have been attempting to get NAC to take responsibility for it for some time now. The council have refused, not simply because of financial constraints but because they're under absolutely no legal obligation to do so.
When this car park was constructed almost 20 years ago after one side of the shopping precinct was demolished - ironically due to the extortionately high private rent's being charged for the shop units - an agreement was reached between the owners and the council, who then allowed a car park to be built there.
I believe there was an "option" in that agreement that would allow the council to take on responsibility for things at a later date if they so wanted, but that's all it was, an "option".

My personal take on it is that this company or whoever owns them nowadays are attempting to morally blackmail NAC.
Put it this way, if the car park does indeed close for a while, there's no prizes for guessing who'll initially get the blame for it.

[Vivc113]

Financial restraints!!! Did they not recently spend a fortune on nights out ?!?

[michaelm]

You've lost me there Viv. ?

[creamolafoam]

Financial restraints!!! Did they not recently spend a fortune on nights out ?!?

Yip. Bang on the money

[michaelm]

Don't know why this seems to have turned into some sort of political issue.

[brian f]

michaelm- Do you remember Nancy that used to run the Glencairn .

[Vivc113]

You've lost me there Viv. ?

I think the Cooncil spent 1000s on nights oot? Sure I read this recently.

[michaelm]

Slightly OT.
Yes Brian, Nancy McEwan and her husband John were the licencees of the Glencairn Bar for a number years in the 70's.
And believe me, it was Nancy that wore the trooser's in that pub back in those days.