They demolished the last Ayr high flat while I wasn’t looking

Another surprise found on my delayed return to Ayr.

One of the three original high flats built in Ayr, this third example was temporarily spared demolition thanks to a contract in place to use its high roof as the site of a cellphone antennae installation.

More notes here: Lucky catch – Last of Ayr’s high flats before demolition

Seems they decided to take advantage of my not watching for a while, and demolish it before I made my return.

Then again, the contract was set to expire at then of 2025, so no great surprise – but they were quick.

I was lucky to catch it on this visit as I wasn’t supposed be here, and had only spotted the missing building because I had to walk through Wallacetown, and should have been able to see it from the street – but couldn’t.

Last Ayr ‘High Flats’ – Still there

It’s funny how you can come across a story you had no idea existed – and can get constant reminders too.

When I discovered Last block of Ayr’s high flats might avoid demolition, I was just mildly interested a little over six months ago.

It was something of a coincidence, that I had been reading about them shortly before this story developed, and that I had probably seen them being built (but was too small to remember stuff from 1969), and had been walking on the ground cleared by the demolition of the other two buildings.

I tend to glance over when I’m nearby, but on this occasion was walking along the opposite bank of the River Ayr, when I looked over and realised where I was – across from the Wallacetown site.

The flats are still there, with the mobile phone mast contract set to run to 2025.

The building may even get a reprieve, as I’ve read there are now proposals to refurbish and repurpose the building.

I guess I’ll just have to keep watching.

Lucky catch – Last of Ayr’s high flats before demolition

Wandering around places not normally visited can bring surprise results.

Being largely residential, I never made into what I think is the Wallacetown area of Ayr, which happens to be where the first, and I believe only, high flats were built in Ayr.

Dating from 1969, three blocks of 14 storey flats were built, with 78 flats in each, and survived until refurbishment was costed at £35, with further reports of asbestos in the dated structures sealing the decision. Owned by the council, further analysis indicated that many residents suffered limited mobility, and used mobility scooters to get around.

The last flat, featured in the pics below, apparently lasted a little longer because it carried a mobile phone mast (three can be seen in the pic below), and remained standing until alternative arrangements were made for coverage. It seems the site contract runs to 2025.

Given the hostility to proposals for similar developments nowadays, it’s intriguing to read that nearly half of the residents (or maybe just someone influential in the local community council) oppose the decision – then again, about half of the US seem to want Donald J Trump to rule over them.