Regeneration is just a sham

May 29 2009

I AM sure that the Kilmarnock Standard readers will by now be familiar with the long-term desire of East Ayrshire Council for “town centre regeneration.”

But has it not yet occurred to anyone that this whole idea is shallow and hypocritical?

My considered view is that the whole concept of “town centre regeneration” is an insult to the intelligence of the people of Kilmarnock.

Why, for example, do the elected councillors and council officials consider it justifiable to finance superficial cosmetic changes when, in contrast, so many real problems are continually ignored.

East Ayrshire Council senses no hypocrisy in investing in unnecessary and no doubt expensive blue lighting of the viaduct, where, until very recently, tenants of Orchard Gardens required the use of a torch to safely exit the compound.

Recently, much publicity has surrounded the possible regeneration of the former Johnnie Walker building.

That this will improve the “image” of the town is repeated again and again.

What is forgotten is that no one lives in this building.

People do live in East Ayrshire’s decaying housing stock however.

Who has spoken of addressing the problems of damp, leaking and rusted piping, crumbling facades and window ledges with chunks missing?

To my knowledge nobody has, and I am sure no one will in the future.

At best this is indifference, and at worst, utter contempt for council tenants.

It seems to me that in Kilmarnock (and towns all over Britain for that matter) the demands of urban fashion and the desire to attract shoppers from outwith the immediate area are far more important than creating a town which genuinely provides for the towns’ people.

– Kieran MacManus, Kilmarnock.