Ayr Businesses Say Cycle Lane Plans Threaten Livelihoods and Town Access
- Ayrshire Daily News
- Oct 16
- 5 min read
Local businesses and residents in Ayr continue to raise concerns over parking reductions and consultation processes linked to the Accessible Ayr project.
The project, led by South Ayrshire Council in partnership with Ayrshire Roads Alliance and Sustrans, aims to make Ayr town centre more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists while improving public spaces. Updated plans include design changes across Pavilion Road, the Esplanade, Alloway Street, Carrick Street, Fort Street, Sandgate, High Street, Miller Road, Barns Crescent, and Newmarket Street.
However, many local traders remain frustrated over the impact on parking — particularly on Alloway Street, where proposals would see a reduction from ten standard bays to four, with the taxi rank removed to accommodate a new cycle lane.
Alessandro Varese, director of the Blue Lagoon fish and chip chain, said:
“I believe removing the existing parking provisions in place for a cycle lane will be detrimental to business. It is very important for businesses on the high street to have parking provisions made available for customers to pop in & out for goods or appointments by car. Looking at the drawing it appears parking spaces will be vastly restricted to 4 bays plus 3 disabled, taxi rank removed, with a cycle lane now taking over the full right hand side of the road which will likely be unused the majority of the year. Installing cycle lanes may be ‘politically correct’, but the reality is when they impact on parking provisions it has a detrimental effect on local businesses. We do not have the climate to prioritise cycle lanes over cars.”
Several other businesses, including Tempura, Spudbuds, Cochrane’s Ayr, Ayr Guitar, and Logan The Jewellers, share similar concerns about the balance between supporting active travel and maintaining car access for customers.
Renaldo’s Old Fashioned Ices has also spoken out against the proposals, posting on social media in support of other local businesses who oppose the plans for new bike lanes and street works. The Sangate, near Renaldo’s is set to have one lane removed and a cycle lane introduced, when this road is already chaotic at the best of times. The post said:
“We are just one of many business that are in opposition of the proposed new bike lane and street works to commence in our town, including our neighbours Blue Lagoon Fish & Chips , Marcos Fish and Chips Ayr , Cafe Ginger and Deli Ginger, not to mention the business in the High Street Alloway Street and Miller Road. Most of the Ayr business’s are just about recovered from the effect the Covid Pandemic had on us and ripping up the town for a cycle lane will be detrimental to us all. All of our Independent Business are trying hard to survive in Ayr and we need footfall, not bicycles. Millions of £££ wasted which could be going to better things in our town. We’re asking you our customers, families and friends to take a stand with us. Every single voice counts, we have to protect our Local Businesses.”
Renaldo’s has released a fresh statement questioning how businesses will operate during construction. The business highlighted the disruption likely to be caused by digging up pavements and reducing parking around Sandgate, warning that access for customers and suppliers could be severely affected. These are all unknowns.
In their statement, Renaldo’s said businesses including The Bistro, Narture CIC Artisan Café and the recently opened Puck Espresso could all face access issues once work begins. The post urged locals to unite in opposition to the works, stating that the planned changes “negatively impact our town” and encouraging residents to submit objections to the consultation before it closes.
Other local traders have also criticised the plans.
Mrs Gina Smart, of Gina Smart Fashion on Alloway Street, said:
“Oh, not good. It’s terrible. Look at the cars that are parked here, people are stopping; they go to the bank, to the shops, you have to have parking to have their businesses.” She added: “How many people cycle in and out of the town? South Ayrshire Council’s report said that there was a measured 33 cyclists per day.”
Mr Logan, of Logan’s Jewellers, said he could only recall “one customer who cycles up and down the street.”
John Smart, the fourth generation of his family to run a business in Ayr, said:
“I’ll be very honest. I would have parking on both sides of the street because there’s not enough parking. The minute that a parking bay empties, it gets filled. They’re discouraging people coming to Ayr. You need more parking. We need more people coming. We need more cars, not bicycles. Make the free parking three hours, because two hours isn’t enough to get a bite to eat and do shop. That would make the restaurant healthy businesses.”
Ryan, from The Frame Shop, said he was “not in favour of the parking plans” and had “great concerns about the demolition of the Hourston’s building which was going to affect his business as it was right next door.”
Following last week’s Drop-In Engagement Event, Accessible Ayr reported that 147 people attended, with organisers acknowledging that feedback on certain aspects — including the proposed cycle lane on Alloway Street — has been mixed.
In a statement, the project team said:
“It’s evident how much Ayr cares. The core theme so far from feedback is that residents and businesses see the challenges faced by Ayr and want to improve their town for current and future generations. We understand that some folks aren’t happy with certain aspects of the updated designs, like the cycle infrastructure on Alloway Street. We’re listening and looking into alternative options.”
Residents can view the updated designs and share their views through an online survey, open until 23 October.
Meanwhile, the Fort, Seafield & Wallacetown Community Council has called for a more transparent and inclusive consultation process, saying that the event at the Cutty Sark “was poorly organised and lacked substance.”
Community Council Chair Denise Sommerville said:
“The event was poorly organised and lacked substance, with residents left confused by a method that many described as simplistic and meaningless. It turned into little more than a tick-box exercise that a nursery child could do, rather than a genuine attempt to understand what people in Ayr actually want for their town centre.”
The Community Council added that regeneration must reflect the needs of residents and businesses through genuine dialogue and balanced priorities before plans are finalised. You can email your views to the following email address: sm-gb-accessibleayr@sweco.co.uk
