Lady Margaret Drive, Troon - Blockage of Public Right of Way: An open letter to South Ayrshire Council

On 3^rd July 2006 I visited Troon in Ayrshire where my Mum still stays and where my friend’s family were visiting for a short holiday. I recently re-attended the site on 2nd September 2013 and found it as it was in 2006.

In 2006 we had decided to visit where I grew up which is Lady Margaret Drive in Fullarton in Troon. We walked from the car park at the play park where Fullarton House used to be through the woods to the end of Balcomie Crescent and around to what I thought was still a path from the end of Lady Margaret Drive back through the woods to the car park. 

At the end of Lady Margaret Drive we discovered that the entrance was blocked by a metal fence and the path overgrown through lack of use. I was rather confused since the woodland behind the fence is a public space and the road in front of the fence is also a public space. We therefore had to retrace our steps by the much longer way which we had just come.

I discovered by calling South Ayrshire Council that the fence had not been erected by them and indeed had been placed there illegally by the owner of the adjacent property. Several steps in the past had been taken to have it removed but this had not been followed up recently as no complaints had been received about the lack of a ‘right of way’ at the place in the recent past.

I wish to make a complaint about this fence and ask what steps you intend to take to have it removed. I also wish to complain that although this fence has been erected there illegally you have time and time again ignored pleas to have something done about it.

How the London to Brighton train ride has changed in 60 years

I can recall seeing the first and second of these films on the BBC in the 1983 - just shows you how old I now am. It is fascinating to see the two of them again and with a further update from this year. Looking forward to the next one in another 30 years time should we all still be here.

A link to the story and the film on the BBC UK website is shown below...
BBC London to Brighton on the train, 1953, 1983 and 2013

Marr College update

I visited Marr College last week on a bicycle ride around Troon whilst visiting my parents.

So far there seems to be no advance on the refurbishment, apart from the possible maintenance or replacement of the roof over the assembly hall.

Hopefully the full refurb and the building of the new wings, and demolition of the 1970s/1980s extension will advance soon.

I don't know whose pictures I have shown below. I will of-course remove them, or acknowledge them on request.