Forum Warns 'Tough Times Ahead'

Craig Winning 1543 - 1543 • Published 15 May 2009 14:17 1 Comment

THE chairman of a new business taskforce says the area faces a tough challenge to haul itself out of the current economic crisis.

William Mackie, Chairman of the Ayrshire Business Forum, says the credit crunch has had a severe impact on companies across the Cumnock and Doon Valley.

But he says the mood amongst the business community remains positive.

The Forum has been involved in several round-the-table discussions with a cross section of business people from across Ayrshire in a bid to address economic issues in the region.

And Mr Mackie says they are doing all they can to aid the recovery process.

He said: 'Our aim is to try and help business in the current climate and we are supporting the likes of East Ayrshire Council in their Employment Task Force initiative.

'I would say the general mood is one of real challenge in the area, which mirrors the general situation across the country. In East Ayrshire we"ve seen a number of companies having to cut their cloth and through that has come redundancies.

And over the next year or so it is going to continue to be a tough challenge. But all we can do is remain proactive and look at ways of supporting people through this.

'The other thing that has come out of the recent meetings has been a real desire within the Business Forum to see businesses in Ayrshire help each other out and through that aiding the local economy.'

A number of areas for development prioritised by the Forum include an Action Group looking at developing the Ayrshire and Arran brand and the establishment of a Tourism Information Centre based at Prestwick Airport.

Mr Mackie says continuing criticism over the lack of information given to tourists about local attractions - including Dumfries House and the Barony A-Frame, prompted the moves.

He said: 'The idea for a tourist centre at Prestwick Airport was mooted previously but for various reasons didn"t progress. Tourism is a vital part of the Ayrshire economy so we need to promote it as much as possible. Having something like this is a start and we will continue to look at ways of how we can best promote tourism and the facilities we have in the area.'

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  Alec McGowan
  Unregistered User
  Jul 6, 14:14
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  While laudable the Tourist Information Centre at Prestwick Airport is hardly a priority - creating a unified tourism network , one which should be inclusive of 'orphaned' attractions like The Bachelors Club, Tarbolton, Dunaskin Museum, and neighbouring areas attractions (Dumfries and Galloway, South Lanarkshire, etc) and steps ought to be take to protect the rather large number of beautiful properties' which Ayshire has been blessed with, as many are 'unlisted and at risk'.
  
  Coilsfield House a magnificent mansion designed by John Patterson on the outskirts of Tarbolton was brought low by fire, whose hasty demolition was approved of by the 'coonsill' in 1969. My father (an insurance building surveyor to trade) had cause to inspect the remains of the house and concluded that 'for no better reason than a lack of strong will and even lesser than a passing interest in preservation, this blaze most provident will prove to be, and to her (CH) a nemises'.
  
  Need I mention Louden Castle 'The Windsor of the North' and it's shameful neglect, though the theme park owners are keen to see a program of preservation/improvement implemented.
  
  Expending money on targeting tourists is fine, however I would be careful not to become overly focused on an overseas market without creating a sustainable 'quality' network of attractions ... preferably one which hasn't been Disney-fied'.
  
  Having lived and worked in Ayrshire and now within the tourist industry of North America I will warrant you the last thing tourists want is 'Brigadoon', rather they'd have Castle Doon midges and aw.
  
  Examine the waterfront at Largs and ask the locals who live there what brings in tourists, petty local infighting, fiefdoms, squabbling and mini-empire building ... or the people, buildings and preserved history of the land ... Don't take my word for it, consult the staff at SAC Auchincruive, about development of tourism - having studied the subject for decades they at least speak from a position of informed knowledge.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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