SUDDENLY BUT NOT UNEXPECTEDLY...

Suddenly but not unexpectedly after fighting bone cancer for almost 4 years my Mum passed away on Saturday 8th April 2017 at home in her own bed. She had had a good day on Saturday being out going to and from hospital for a blood transfusion. She had enjoyed the lovely weather, the spring flowers and bird sounds, spring being her favourite time of year as she had become recently almost housebound. She particularly enjoying the time with, and chatting with my brother. She passed away very quickly shortly after returning from hospital in the evening whilst still in his company. She didn't quite make her 86th birthday which would have been on Sunday but pleasantly had all ready received a birthday card and was looking forward to the big day.

Mum I miss you so much but I am pleased that your recent suffering is now at an end and you are with your recently departed sister who passed in January.

Mum and I October 1984. Just about to go out to celebrate my brother's 21st birthday by having a slap up tea at Dallam Tower Hotel on Dundonald Hill above Loans.

My Mum on Largs seafront after a shower of rain during the 1930s.

Her funeral service was held at St Meddans Church of Scotland, her church of over 40 years, at 12 noon on Thursday 20th April and afterwards at the South Beach Hotel, South Beach, Troon. There then was a private cremation at Masonhill Crematorium, Ayr on Friday 21st April 2017. In attendance were only my brother, my Dad and myself.

My Mum's funeral flowers. She loved her flowers and was a very competent flower arranger (she won a competition and was so surprised when that happened) so the flowers were very important and well chosen by my niece and sister in law. My only request was that they should include freesia as these were her favourite flower of all due to their beautiful scent. I always tried to have freesia within sniffing distance of her whilst she was ill. The blue/ purple colours were also chosen as these were her favourite colours. Thanks to Kirstie's Flowers in Troon for these.

Mum's funeral flowers at Masonhill, 1

Mum's funeral flowers at Masonhill, 2

Mum's funeral flowers at Masonhill, 3

My Mums ashes are to be interred at Largs Cemetery on Monday 29th May 2017 followed by lunch at Nardini's restaurant.

This was beside my Mum's bed throughout her illness.

SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL - LADY MARGARET DRIVE blocked right of way

This story follows on from my previous post of 13.10.2014 a link to which is shown immediately below...
http://cdbc81.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/south-ayrshire-council-continues-to-do.html

I received a reply to my enquiry regarding the blocked right of way at the end of Lady Margaret Drive. Despite this contradicting previous information supplied by South Ayrshire Council it does indeed answer the question if it indeed it is public land and always has been.

Lady Margaret Drive is the L shape in the centre of the image. The area in question is the green area through which the path ran for approximately 20 years.

This is the letter received...
Dear Mr CrawfordPlease see attached map showing SAC ownership of the area to the rear of Lady Margaret Drive the pink area is South Ayrshire Council the light green area highlighted is not in council ownership this is private land and I am afraid I do not have the details of who owns this land.  You would be able to get this detail from The Register of Scotland in Edinburgh 08456070161.

I cannot comment on what you have been previously told, and as far as I can see this area of land has never been in council ownership.

Regards

M D (name appears on original letter)

However having received this I researched rights of way. Having looked at the legislation i.e. that rights of way do indeed exist in Scotland (something that I had hitherto been unaware of) it seems that the owner of the Darley Plantation was aware of this fact, which is why after approximately 20 years the path was closed, as this is the length of time required to make it a right of way. It is significant as the access at the end of Balcomie Crescent (the other road which terminates at the green area which signifies Darley Plantation) remains open. 

For more information regarding rights of way please see the below link...

https://www.scotways.com/faq/rights-of-way-law/213-how-does-a-route-become-a-right-of-way

So much as the closed path irritates every time I go there the landowner holds all the cards as usual.

SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL continues to do nothing about illegally erected fence on public land

Planning Services

South Ayrshire Council

Burns House

Burns Statue Square

AYR

KA7 1UT

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

FENCE: between 21 and 34 LADY MARGARET DRIVE, TROON, AYRSHIRE

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 re-attended the site on 2nd September 2013 and within the last fortnight and found it as it was in 2006. 

At the end of Lady Margaret Drive the entrance to Fullarton Woods is blocked by a metal fence, and the path behind is 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. 

This is the house at 21 Lady Margaret Drive, Troon, Ayrshire. Its appearance does not indicate that the owner or owners of this property are in any way responsible for the erection of the illegal fence between this property and 34 Lady Margaret Drive, Troon, Ayrshire (the mentioning of this property also not conveying any responsibility).

 
I discovered by calling South Ayrshire Council in 2006 that the fence had not been erected by South Ayrshire Council 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.

Thanks for your help and I continue to look forward to a speedy and satisfactory resolution to this matter.

Yours sincerely

 

Christopher Crawford 

NB: An update regarding this will follow shortly once I am able to do some additional research, having received a response from South Ayrshire Council

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.

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.

Late Night Flight

For more stunning images like this visit The AMC Artist website

Lonely Cloud

For more images like this visit the The AMC Artist website

Wet Sand

For more stunning images like this visit AMC Artist at The AMC Artist website

Modernisation of Marr College

I decided to write to Mike Russell early in the New Year to ask if the transfer of ownership of Marr College from the Marr Trust to South Ayrshire Council was a condition of their funding of the refurbishment and demolition and replacement of the existing extension.

The Scottish Government have stated in their letter to me of 20.01.2013 that '...the issues you raise with regard to the transfer of ownership of the school are a matter entirely for South Ayrshire Council to consider.' and 'This is the case even when the Government are providing funding for a school project such as through the Scotland's Schools for the Future programme.'

Therefore the question now must go to South Ayrshire Council - why do they have to purchase the school as part of a refurbishment when this will reduce the amount available for that refurbishment? It is in their bid for funding from the Scottish Government that they intended to do this, but I do not know why?

I cannot think of what possible advantage to the school that this offers. I can however think of the advantage to South Ayrshire Council who since Strathclyde Region days have been trying to get their hands on the buildings.

Marr College Update

Having fought to have Marr College maintained for many years it is finally confirmed that South Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government have allocated funding for this project. As to whether it will ultimately take place remains to be seen and exact details are yet to be confirmed.

Maintenance and refurbishment to take place

Due to the poor stewardship of South Ayrshire Council it is now a refurbishment of the original building and if the original plans are to be believed a demolition and replacement of the 1970s/80s extension. A new wing will be added at each end of the original building.

Poor stewardship by South Ayrshire Council

Amazingly, although this is subject to confirmation (and complete astonishment!), the Marr Trust is proposing to sell the school building to South Ayrshire Council although maintain ownership of the playing fields.  

Reward for lack of maintenance and inadequate stewardship

If this is true South Ayrshire Council would appear to be being rewarded by Marr Trust for not maintaining the school, when under the terms of the original lease/ rent agreement the organisation was to return the school to Marr Trust in ‘pristine condition’. I would like to know if this is indeed true, and if so what are the reasons behind it as it seems a ridiculous proposal.

Public push for re-think on Marr College move - Ayrshire Post

Public push for re-think on Marr College move - Ayrshire Post

email To Philip Saxton on 01.10.2010 re Marr

To philip.saxton@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
From: cdbc81 Crawford (cdbc81@hotmail.com)
Sent: 01 October 2010 17:12:16
To: philip.saxton@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
Dear Philip,

Thank you very much for your email reply of today. Unfortunately I did not receive the reply to my communication of 9th August that you mention, yet I received many other emails around that date.

I realise the informal consultation is now complete and I (on my own behalf) have all ready submitted the required documentation to the consultation.

I am somewhat surprised at your line "any corespondence from groups or petitions will be taken as one person support or objection for either a refurnishment or new build" given that South Ayrshire Council have themselves tried their own survey over the last few days of school pupils of Marr College. It seems a great deal of trouble for the Council to have gone to if this will be only counted as 1 response.

Your comment also contradicts previously what South Ayrshire Council had previously advised i.e. that petitions and correspondence from groups counted for nothing whatsoever, meaning their own survey counts for nothing whatsoever.

South Ayrshire Council is also therefore different to the Scottish Parliament where petitions do count for more than nothing or indeed 1 person.

Like you my main concern is for the current and future pupils in secondary education in Troon which I believe would be best served by South Ayrshire Council maintaining their existing schools and buildings so that pupils could be educated in satisfactory accomodation for the long term. This is why I think the refurbishment of the existing iconic building which has inspired many generations of pupils would be better than the building of a new school which would with necessity do away with the existing traditions, itself require replacement within about 30 years and remove the reputation which Marr College has had for many many years. Surely building on that existing reputation is better than destroying it.

Marr College continues to inspire people to fight on its behalf and engenders great respect due to its reputation for good education achieved over many years. South Ayrshire Council has a reputation in the local area gained through its own actions over many years of neglecting Marr College and general financial mismanagement.

It is interesting to note that you state that your decision will be taken in the interests of the Trust and not the Council. These should be one and the same i.e. the best interests of the education of the people of Troon, in particular those all ready at and who will in future attend Marr. Ofcourse finance should also be considered but I hope we all live in a country where more than the bottom line is taken into consideration even in these financially strapped times.

I continue to be surprised that Marr Trust have allowed South Ayrshire Council to neglect the Marr College buildings to the extent that they seem to have over many years.

I thank you for taking the time to respond. It is reassuring to note that you do care about this after all.

I look forward to a satisfactory outcome.

Regards

Christopher

Christopher Crawford (ex Marr pupil with family still in Troon)
81 Meadowpark Street
Flat G2
Dennistoun
GLASGOW
G31 2SH
tel: 0141 554 4079
e: cdbc81@hotmail.com

email from Philip Saxton of 29.09.2010 re Marr

To cdbc81 Crawford
From: Saxton, Philip (Philip.Saxton@south-ayrshire.gov.uk)
Sent: 29 September 2010 19:11:52
To: cdbc81 Crawford (cdbc81@hotmail.com)

My apologies if i missed your email i usually make a point of replying to all corespondance however i will check my emails tomorow and reply I can assure you it was a oversight and can only apologies again.

Regards philip

email of 29.09.2010 to Philip Saxton regarding Marr

To philip.saxton@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
From: cdbc81 Crawford (cdbc81@hotmail.com)
Sent: 29 September 2010 17:03:42
To: philip.saxton@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
Dear Mr Saxton,

Given that I have not received any response (to my email of 9th August 2010) regarding the matter of the future of Marr College I can only assume that you are not particularly interested in the future of Marr College and also the secondary educational future of the children of Troon. This directly constrasts with some of your other colleagues.
No wonder not many people vote in council elections.

Your lack of response has therefore been noted.
I look forward to the outcome of the consultation though.

Given my experience of consultations in the past I do not hold out very much hope that the concerted campaign to get South Ayrshire Council to refurbish the original Marr building rather than build a new school on the playing fields will have made a great deal of difference, as I have never before been involved in one which has resulted in any significant difference. This is despite votes taking place at the public meetings indicating that a large majority of local people are for refurbishment that do not appear in the official minutes of those meetings, a petition (that South Ayrshire Council have stated that they will not take any attention of, even despite its 1229 names and counting) and letter/ email writing with reasoned arguments in response to each of the statements arguing for building a new school on the playing fields.

I do hope I am proved wrong and that the refurbishment option is selected.
Regards

Christopher

Christopher Crawford (ex Marr pupil)
81 Meadowpark Street
Flat G2
Dennistoun
GLASGOW
G31 2SH
tel: 0141 554 4079
e: cdbc81@hotmail.com

Another email to Nan McFarlane re Marr

To nan.mcfarlane@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
From: cdbc81 Crawford (cdbc81@hotmail.com)
Sent: 29 September 2010 16:55:37
To: nan.mcfarlane@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Dear Nan,

Further to our conversation (last email from me of 30.08.2010) regarding the building of a new school to replace Marr on the existing playing fields as opposed to refurbishing the existing buildings, I had been expecting a further reply from you.

Why? This was for two reasons.

Given that you perhaps inadvertently again mislead me regarding the new extension which you had previously stated had not assisted regarding the over-capacity number of pupils attending the school. I found this rather alarming considering you attended the school, were on the Marr Trust (even although you are at present not attending meetings) and are on South Ayrshire Council where any decisions will be made.

"As regards the building built in the late 70s in addition to the facilities you mention I can recall a conservative estimate of 30 additional classrooms which were included (I attended it when the new extension was open) although these may currently be disused because of South Ayrshire Council's neglect of the school. [The new building included classrooms for Modern Languages, Geography, History, Latin, Classics, Art, Woodwork, Technical Drawing, a common room for 6th years, 2 gyms, 1 large games hall, a library, a canteen, etc at that time. English, Sciences, Music, Drama, Home Economics, Computing, Maths stayed in the old building.] Therefore although this may not have been sufficient to meet the over capacity problem it in a large part (if not completely) addressed it."

I hope as a result of this information, and your obvious enthusiasm for finding the best future for future secondary school pupils in Trooin and South Ayrshire, you will have found out that the 1970s extension indeed contains more than the 'library, gym and dining hall' that you mentioned in your email of 30th August and can now disseminate the correct information and argue from a position of knowledge in this respect.

I was also looking forward to a reply on the issue of having pupils on site during refurbishment works. Please see the paragraph below from my email of 27.08.2010.

"I do not understand the problem of having pupils on site during refurbishment works. I quote ‘If the playing fields are not an option the Council will need to decant all the pupils somewhere else as the law dictates we cannot have children being educated on a building site over and above the health and safety issue.’ This is because I stay directly opposite a school in Glasgow which is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment. If the law does indeed dictate that children cannot be educated on the building site then I believe that Glasgow City Council are currently breaking that law."

As I do stay opposite a school with pupils in it in Glasgow I would be very much interested in hearing about this law since Glasgow City Council seem obviously to be breaking it.

I look forward to the outcome of the consultation.

Given my experience of consultations in the past I do not hold out very much hope that the concerted campaign to get South Ayrshire Council to refurbish the original Marr building rather than build a new school on the playing fields will have made a great deal of difference, as I have never before been involved in one which has resulted in any significant difference. This is despite votes taking place at the public meetings indicating that a large majority of local people are for refurbishment that do not appear in the official minutes of those meetings, a petition (that South Ayrshire Council have stated that they will not take any attention of, even despite its 1229 names and counting) and letter/ email writing with reasoned arguments in response to each of the statements arguing for building a new school on the playing fields.

I do hope I am proved wrong and that the refurbishment option is selected.

Regards

Christopher

Christopher Crawford (ex Marr pupil)
81 Meadowpark Street
Flat G2
Dennistoun
GLASGOW
G31 2SH
tel: 0141 554 4079
e: cdbc81@hotmail.com

Further email to Nan McFarlane re FUTURE OF MARR COLLEGE of 31.08.2010

I decided to write a reply after all...
_________________________________________________

Dear Nan,

Thank you once again for your reply.

As regards the building built in the late 70s in addition to the facilities you mention I can recall a conservative estimate of 30 additional classrooms which were included (I attended it when the new extension was open) although these may currently be disused because of South Ayrshire Council's neglect of the school. [The new building included classrooms for Modern Languages, Geography, History, Latin, Classics, Art, Woodwork, Technical Drawing, a common room for 6th years, 2 gyms, 1 large games hall, a library, a canteen, etc at that time. English, Sciences, Music, Drama, Home Economics, Computing, Maths stayed in the old building.] Therefore although this may not have been sufficient to meet the over capacity problem it in a large part (if not completely) addressed it.

As regards your point about Marr College being an attraction for people coming to live in Troon. If the school was closed and a new one opened this removes one of the reasons people wish to relocate to Troon as the school available would be just like all the others. This is I believe is a major reason to keep the existing school open and to build on its reputation, not destroy it.

I thank you for taking the time to write back to me once again. I look forward to good outcome for Marr College and its current and future pupils.

Regards

Christopher Crawford

REPLY FROM NAN MCFARLANE of 30.08.2010

Please find below a further reply from Nan McFarlane, SNP leader and councillor for Troon on South Ayshire Council.

It is interesting to note her information about how Marr College was built and that she acknowledges that people have in a large part moved to Troon so that they could send their children to Marr.

However she has proved that she does not know what is contained in the new extension built on to the school in the late 70s. Not only does it have the facilities that she mentions it also contains at least 30 classrooms that I can remember which means ofcourse that it did at least partially address the problem of the lack of capacity. So although the school may have been created with an expected role of 380 the new school building increases that figure.

I have changed my mind and am going to write back though at this stage. Please see her reply below.
_______________________________________________

Dear Mr Crawford,

Thank you for your reply to my email.

I felt it important to answer your concerns regarding my lack of explanation of the differences of the school role from 1935 and the capacity issue of the building. C.K.Marr died on 19th February, 1919 and left his fortune to benefit the education of the people of Troon. It was the newly formed Trust at that time who (a) decided some of the money should be used for a new secondary school as the town did not have one. C.K.Marr had to travel to Ayr to complete his education. It was the Trust who decided to (b) engage the best architect in Scotland to design a school that would gain a worldwide reputation for its structure. Both of those decisions created a demand that went far beyond any anticipated school role number. This demand instigated a Council house build at Muirhead, Logan Drive and Barassie to meet the rapid growth in the town coming from families moving in to ensure their children secured a place at Marr College. Ottoline Drive and surrounding streets were constructed to house the owner/occupier families moving to Troon to access the school and all the benefits provided by the Trust. The capacity at the school was breached not long after it was opened and has continued to be stretched ever since.

What I was basically saying was the original building was built to house only around 380 pupils. I firmly believe the Trust failed to take into consideration the demand that would be created by the reputation the school would take on. In 1975 when Strathclyde took over, the extension was built to provide a library, gym and dining hall but did not improve the capacity problem. This is a situation that still exists today.

I hope this information is helpful

Nan

return email to NanMcFarlane re MARR COLLEGE

Subject: RE: MARR COLLEGE

Dear Ms McFarlane,

Thank you for your email of 16th August 2010 which I read with interest.

It was very kind of you to take the time out to answer the points I raised (considerably different to your council colleague Phillip Saxton from whom I have still not heard anything). I had not intended to write again but given the length of your reply and the time it must have taken you to compose it I thought it only right to come back to you on a few points.

I had no idea that you had attended Marr College – this is reassuring. I also attended between 1981 and 1987 shortly after the new extension had been built. I can’t say as I enjoyed my time there but I realize that it was and remains a good school, and therefore worthy of making every effort to retain it for the future young people of Troon as CK Marr intended.

I am well aware that the original school building was built for a capacity considerably lower than the current school role. However the new extension built in the late 1970s was meant to address this problem. By not taking this into account in your reply you are giving the misleading impression that the current school including the extension if it had been maintained properly is inadequate for the current number of pupils on its role. That is not to say that certain things could not have been upgraded too but that is by the way.

However conversely you could argue that the current playing fields (over 13.8 hectares) were built for a school role of 380 and now the council is trying to shoe horn 1250 pupils on to them. Obviously if the Council select the new building option then they will be trying to fit a school role of 1250 on playing fields of about 8 hectares in size making the problem worse!

I am very pleased to hear that the new build option or indeed the refurbishment option will be built without using the PFI or PPP funding mechanism. That is a considerable relief. I agree with you about these PFI and PPP funded schools and other public buildings being a financial mill stone around the neck of Scottish councils and other public organisations. I did say so at the time when it was unfashionable to say so, but of course we are now where we are. Previous mismanagement can only be rectified now – we can’t unfortunately turn the clock back.

It is refreshing to hear that you also consider that Marr College has indeed been neglected over the years and are fighting to rectify this.

I still do disagree with your views regarding the Historic Scotland listing. I had no idea that the tiles in the halls were listed but am very pleased that they are. Listing is there to preserve something of value for future generations and should not be seen as a barrier to improvements. I believe that the building and the traditions of the school as well as its reputation are worth fighting for but I agree it must be improved for current and future generations.

I am aware of what someone said who was on these recent tours and I quote ‘On the Marr tour we were informed that it was impossible to build a handrail on the stairs up from the vestibules due to the listed nature of the tiles. The guide seemed quite surprised when my mother pointed out that a bannister could be free-standing fixed to the (presumably unlisted) stone staircase. "Nobody's thought of that" was the startled reply.’ This is indicative of the attitude that seems to pervade everything to do with Marr College. It is all ‘can’t do this’ rather than ‘can do this’. It has been pervasive since the 1970s when Strathclyde Region tried to get their hands on the Marr Trust money.

Interesting to note from those that were able to go on the school tour that it seems that it is primarily the new building (not the old one) that is primarily the problem here. I think this must be something to do with the quality of the old building as opposed to the new one.

I do not understand the problem of having pupils on site during refurbishment works. I quote ‘If the playing fields are not an option the Council will need to decant all the pupils somewhere else as the law dictates we cannot have children being educated on a building site over and above the health and safety issue.’ This is because I stay directly opposite a school in Glasgow which is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment. If the law does indeed dictate that children cannot be educated on the building site then I believe that Glasgow City Council are currently breaking that law.

I am very pleased to hear that the playing fields are protected from development through planning laws as I believe that they are very important for the whole of Troon as they are. Any attempt at reducing the size of them should be resisted. However if the Council do wish to proceed with the development of a new school I have no doubt that this would not pose a great problem to them given that they are part of the ‘establishment’.

If this is indeed a ‘genuine’ consultation then I for one will be most pleased that people’s views are taken into account. This would then have the honour of being the first consultation where I would have been aware that this is has occurred in all but very minor ways when it suits what is wanted in the first place. I am sure from your reply that you will do everything to ensure that this occurs on this occasion.

I am aware that education is not only about buildings, but it is indeed part of it. I still do not understand why old buildings are not just as good as new ones (and on this occasion I believe they are much better given their stature, attractiveness, traditions, etc), or there would be no need to do anything on this occasion as the children could be educated in the open air.

I wholeheartedly concur with your desire to maintain and improve education for those in Troon and across South Ayrshire and I very impressed with your intelligent and passionate reply. You obviously care about this issue and this is most refreshing.

Yours sincerely

Christopher Crawford

http://www.christophercrawford.110mb.com