SOUTH Ayrshire Council’s Information and Advice Hub in Ayr has now reopened following a major refurbishment. 

The centre on Mainholm Road (formerly the North Ayr Resource Centre), provides a range of services to assist customers with welfare and benefits related applications, enquiries and tribunal representation.

The refurbishment has resulted in a number of improvements at the centre while allowing available services to expand to include money advice, debt counselling and personal budgeting support. 

The centre currently deals with around 340 enquiries every month.

The £135,000 project included an internal upgrade which has created three new interview rooms near the entrance alongside a new reception, waiting area and accessible toilets. 

Customers can meet with an advisor in a private interview room ensuring a more comfortable environment in which to discuss confidential matters. 

The project was constructed by the Ayrshire based company, James Frew.

Councillor Philip Saxton, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Customer Services said the people using the centre will see an immediate improvement. 

He said:“By investing in our communities we’re helping to give people
the right information and advice at the right time, to help families and individuals deal directly with pressing financial issues.

“The project means that people can now access a wider range of services, while having their enquiries dealt with in one of the new interview rooms, giving them peace of mind when discussing personal matters.

“I’m pleased the project has been delivered on time and on budget and I’m confident that people using the centre will benefit from an important service that’s been enhanced through this targeted investment.”

The Information and Advice Hub also offers flexible appointment systems with a drop-in service available for more urgent enquiries. 

For those unable to travel to the centre, outreach appointments can be made to meet with an advisor in the Customer Service Centres in Troon, Maybole and Girvan.