OPPOSITION councillors are disappointed at the recent disbandment of Ayr Renaissance, stating that if it was upto them they would have done things differently and keep non-council members at “arm’s length.”

Councillor Martin Dowey of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party said: “The board resigned. If it was my decision, I would have done things differently, but I’m not in charge.

“I think the present administration thought they could do it better, and they wanted to go on a different route which is upto them.”

Councillor Dowey also explained that the problem with council members taking on tasks like Ayr town centre themselves is allowing full accountability to the administration. He said: “It’s a brave decision. They can’t say it’s nothing to do with us if it all goes wrong. It might work and it might not. However for the good of South Ayrshire, I wish them well.”

Ayr Renaissance has yet to officially disband, as a council meeting at the start of the month announced advice from tax experts is being sought before pulling the plug. However, as non-council members resigned, there is no hope of saving the group. Councillor Dowey added: “There were public feelings to save Ayr Renaissance but you can’t save what isn’t there. It’s already gone. The board resigned.

“They had a good innings and have done some wonderful work and I would like to thank them. I would bring it back but it would have to be at arm’s length and cover all of South Ayrshire.”

South Ayrshire Council’s current administration will now face plans to regenerate Ayr town centre on their own but opposition councillors are not too optimistic about its success. Councillor Hugh Hunter said: “I can’t imagine it going smoothly. There’s too many other things going.

“It was never going to be a quick fix. There was good work done. It may have been drawn out but it had been left for years.

“I just think in terms of the town centre it needs to be at arm’s length.

“The current administration will undoubtedly throw money at it and I’m torn because I want the town centre to be vibrant but I have very little faith in the present plan, and I’m not going to stand in their way.

“I don’t hold out much hope of it being as good as it would have been with Ayr Renaissance.”