ORGANISERS of a hugely popular monthly event have hit out at council chiefs for forcing them to share their space.

Alex Hughes and Gary McBride have been organising the monthly Ayrshire Arts and Crafts Fair in Troon Concert Hall for 14 years but have been asked to stage it on the same day as the car boot sale.

And they say unless South Ayrshire Council reverse their decision they will no longer host their event in the town.

Cafe owners Steven Allan and Joanne Gilligan also say their business will suffer if the craft fayre is lost.

Alex said at last Tuesday’s meeting of Troon Community Council: “Our drive is to get footfall to go into the town and use the cafes and visit shops.

We were not consulted about the decisions and people attending the car boot sale just go to the cafe they have and not go into town.

“Eighty per cent of our customers come from Glasgow so they like to go into the town as well. Our crafters are already cancelling on us because they don’t want to be in with the car boot sale. We are not compatible. There also also health and safety issues and the place would be a fire risk.”

Steven and Joanne , who run the Strawberry Cushion said they would lose out if the craft fair ended as their takings were 40 per cent up the weekend it was on. Councillor Bob Pollock said: “We are trying to capitalise the use of our premises.”

And Councillor Phil Saxton backed him up by saying they were trying to make efficiency savings. Troon Community Council chairwoman Helen Duff backed the crafters.

She said: “The two events are both incompatible and I don’t see whey they can’t be held on different Saturdays The Community Council agreed to write to the South Ayrshire Council Chief Executive to voice concern about the issue.