GALA days are under threat of cancellation - because the council want to save £15,000.

The communities of South Ayrshire are banding together to rise against the funding cuts to their summer gala days - and the Ayr Advertiser series is supporting them.

Launching the ‘Save Our Galas’ campaign, we spoke to members of Ballantrae Community Association who are having to cancel their gala day - unless they can get £1400 by April 4 to cover the costs.

Fiona Roper, Secretary of the Ballantrae Community Association said: “We won’t be able to continue.

“The Gala Day being cancelled will have a knock on affect to our entire community.

“We run the Community Hall, and we rely on the Gala Day money to up-keep the hall throughout the rest of the year.

“We make between £2000 to £2400 in profit, but it’ll be nothing if we have to pay £1400 for the things we need to run the day.

“All our local groups, for example, the playgroup and the Boys’ Brigade, all use the Gala to gather funding for their groups - now they are also in serious danger.

“Galas have been running forever - I’ve been here for 20 years, Sharon (chairperson of the BCA) was a gala queen when she was in school.”

In a letter addressed to SAC, Fiona wrote: “These charges will have a serious effect on how and if we can continue to run our galas and events.

“Much has been made following the Community Engagement Bill passed by the Scottish Parliament about the council being serious about engaging with communities in South Ayrshire through effective dialogue.

“This is hardly an example of best practice.

“This kind of cut was an ‘easy hit’, but it has a bigger impact in rural communities.

“Galas and events are extremely important to rural communities - more so than urban areas.

“Some rural galas and events have been running for decades.”

Fiona received a letter from John McDowall, Deputy Leader of the Council telling here there was nothing that could be done to reverse the decision.

He said: “This reduction is not an “easy hit” as you suggest, but was taken after much consideration of alternative savings, all of which are more unpalatable than removal of free support.

“As an example, would it have been better to remove a care package of £50,000 for elderly Mrs X or not uplift wheelie bins for a greater number of weeks?

“Or close museums, community halls or care homes?

“It is accepted that as a result of this decision many galas will not take place, but no Councillor seeks election on the basis of having to reduce support to communities, but that is the economic reality of local government funding today and unfortunately this is likely to continue for some years ahead.

“You ask if this decision could be reversed. Unfortunately no.”

Turn to page 15 to read a letter from the chair of the BCA to the council pleading for funding to continue.

Lesley Bloomer, Executive Director Economy, Neighbourhood and Environment for South Ayrshire Council, said: “The Council’s revenue budget for next year was cut by nearly £7m.

“To meet this gap, councillors agreed a package of savings which included the closure of libraries, removal of additional support needs assistants and a reduction in a wide range of services.

“Another part of this savings package is the removal of free support for gala days and events, which will generate an annual saving of £15,000 per year. We will continue to do all we can to support local groups to source alternative funding and, hopefully, find a suitable solution that will allow for the continued provision of gala days and events that can be enjoyed by communities across South Ayrshire.

Following South Ayrshire Council budget announcement that funding for galas would be cut, organisers have been protesting against it.

Councillors Alec Clark, Brian Connolly, William Grant, Alec Oattes, John Wallace and Nan MacFarlane have been backing a new campaign ‘Save the Galas’ launched by the Ayr Advertiser Series this week.

Speaking about the campaign, Cllr Alec Clark, said: “I am happy to support this petition, not from a political point of view but from an independent one.

“I am disappointed about the effect this budget will have on the vulnerable.

“The closure of Dailly library, to save between £15,000 and £20,000, is minute but devastating.

“There are big decisions not being made. Within a year leisure centres could be part of the Leisure Trust or community run.”

Despite cuts affecting Carrick facilities in Ayr and Troon do not seem to bear the brunt in the same way.

Cllr Clark continued: “Girvan is the biggest town outwith Ayr and Prestwick but the council seem to be driving the economy into the towns and investing in it.”