Opposition parties have vowed to fight the decision to scrap the controversial £52m Ayr Leisure Centre.
SNP leader Peter Henderson said the site at Hourstons would become a ‘wasteland’ while Labour group leader Brian McGinley said his party would be setting up a petition backing the plan.
Both opposition councillors claimed that the cancellation showed a ‘lack of vision’.
Cllr McGinley said: “There was no effort to get consensus and, for me, the chance to have a first class leisure facility in the town centre for the people of Ayr and for people who are visiting is looking extremely slim.
“I don’t want to give it up, because it is such a big investment and is central to regeneration plans.
“I believe there is a silent majority in favour of the plan.
“They are kicking the can down the road. And the longer it takes, the more it will cost.”
He also warned that the cancellation could scupper a £20m levelling-up fund bid for a leisure facility, bringing into question whether the council was getting ‘best value’.
Cllr McGinley added that, the Conservative initial pledge of £10m to refurbish the Citadel, was ‘no guarantee’ the full £26.8m work would take place.
SNP leader Peter Henderson said that the cancellation would result in a situation ‘exactly the same’ as the town centre gap site he says his party ‘inherited’ in 2017 and vowed to look at ‘all options’ to oppose the plan.
Cllr Henderson said: “There is no evidence of a vision, plans or resources from the administration to seek in the regeneration of the town centre.
“This decision undermines years of hard work and planning for a future in the town.
“There was planning and a lot of thought and consultation involved in the strategy and to state that ‘we will replace with houses and shops’ takes no account of the increase in inflation for all building projects, the increase in mortgage rates for homes, and the worsening economic outlook.”
He also pointed to the updated estimate of almost £27m for refurbishing the Citadel.
Cllr Henderson also took issue with the cancellation being decided by the casting vote of Provost Iain Campbell.
He claimed: “This decision only scraped through council by using procedural trickery and did not permit proper debate or scrutiny.
“It is a bad decision on economic grounds, it’s a bad decision on social grounds and it’s a bad decision on environmental grounds. I do hope that the public will remember this as we go forward.”
Cllr Henderson also criticised independent councillors Alec Clark and Brian Connolly – both members of the last administration and backers of the centre.
“For two of the Independents who fully supported and advocated for the original plan, what happened to their principles and vision?”
He suggested that the Conservative view of the High Street was ‘wrapped in nostalgia’ at a time when ‘everyone in the UK is seeking new uses and ways to attract footfall back’.
“This administration, with this decision, has cancelled a drive for improvement and investment,” he continued.
“What has this ill thought out and ill-considered Council decision actually done’, other than to manage the slow decline of Ayr, and the other town centres?”
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
