PEOPLE in the Ayr South and Coylton are being encouraged to vote with their feet on how best to spend funding in their local community. 

The Ayr South and Coylton event is being held on Saturday, October 22 between 11am and 2pm at Belmont Academy in Ayr. 

It’s part of a new way to encourage people to get actively involved in local decision making known as ‘Participatory Budgeting’.

The event offers local people the opportunity to decide how money is spent in their communities. South Ayrshire Council and the Ayr South and Coylton

Locality Planning Group is asking the public for their help in making the event a success by attending and voting on their favourites community groups from Alloway and Doonfoot, Ayr South Harbour and Town Centre, Belmont, Castlehill & Kincaidston, Holmston & Forehill, and Coylton.

After similar, successful events in Ayr North, Girvan, Maybole, Prestwick, and Troon the sixth decision day has its primary focus on projects that will benefit people’s health and wellbeing.

A fund of up to £24,000 is available at the event, with around 30 community groups pitching to an audience of local people about their proposal and how it will benefit the community. After all the pitches have been heard, the audience will vote to decide which groups should receive funding. Groups can be funded up to £1,000 for use in local projects. Anyone over the age of 12 that lives in the area is able to vote.

The money was made available from the South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, the Scottish Government, South Ayrshire Council and Big Lottery Fund - Scotland.

Rita Miller, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Health and Social Care, said she was hoping to see a big turnout.

She said: “These events give people the chance to get directly involved in awarding grants. People will get the opportunity to hear directly from community groups looking for funding and will be able to vote for their favourites.

“The Ayr South event completes the first round of decision day events with hundreds of people having taken the time to get involved and to have their say in local decisions.

“Judging by the experience elsewhere I’m sure there will be strong interest from local people and I hope to see large numbers registering to vote on the day. The benefits of their decisions will be felt right across the Ayr South area.”

The ‘Decision Day’ event takes place on Saturday between 11am and 2pm at Belmont Academy, 8 Nursery Rd, Ayr, KA7 3SN. Registration is open from 10am - 11am. All participants must register before the event start at 11am to be able to vote.