East Ayrshire Council 'asleep at the wheel' over Kilmarnock town centre regeneration

Kilmarnock’s future as a thriving town centre sparked a heated debate in East Ayrshire Council chambers, with councillors clashing over how best to reverse years of decline.

The discussion came as members met to approve the membership of a new Kilmarnock Strategic Group, part of a wider masterplan to tackle the long-term challenges facing the town centre.

While the decision itself was simply to decide whether to expand the group to include all 14 Kilmarnock councillors, the conversation quickly became a broader discussion about the state of the town and the council’s role in its regeneration.

Councillor Graham Boyd claimed that there had been “years of drift” in Kilmarnock’s regeneration, saying that many of the problems in the town were ‘self-inflicted’.

He said that the various consultations around the town centre had failed to deliver and said the area ‘isn’t clean and it feels unsafe to many’.

However, it was criticism of the ‘political leadership’ that brought a retort from SNP Council Leader Douglas Reid.

Independent Cllr Boyd had said: “Regeneration went from being a priority to something we pay lip service to,” he said.

“Attempts have been piecemeal, disconnected, and reactionary. The murals are lovely, but that’s not a masterplan.”

He also criticised Cllr Reid’s use of the term ‘bittersweet’ in a response to Marks and Spencer announcing they would be moving out of the town centre to Queen’s Drive Retail Park.

Council leader Douglas Reid responded robustly to Councillor Boyd, saying he shared the frustrations over the town’s decline but rejected claims of inactivity.

“I know councillor Boyd cares about Kilmarnock — so do I,” he said. “But I take issue with the suggestion that nothing’s been done.”

He said that the decision that would see the transformation of the town in the late sixties was a political decision that had been welcomed at the time as a response to the rise of new towns like Irvine and East Kilbride.

He continued: “There’s been loads of investment and we sometimes underplay just how much money and effort has gone into revamping our town.

“Look at the Johnny Walker bond that lay empty for 20 odd years, now back working as an office space and protected for the next hundred. The opera house that lay as a ruin for 25 years. Working together that that building is now a building to be proud.

“A lot of work’s been done just recently. We had the John Dickie Street North and South. That quite easily could have just lain empty.

“We acted fast and the leisure trust have now moved in.

“So we’ve not been sitting on our hands doing nothing.”

“I’m optimistic that we still get people who give up their time and space to put something back in the town.

“So, I look forward. It’s a challenge. After the fire at King Street and the closure of Marks and Spencers.”

He pointed out that M&S stores were moving out of town centres across the country, and not because of the condition of Kilmarnock town centre.

He added that the bittersweet comment related to the 71 full-time workers and other part-time employees at the store, and the hope that they would retain jobs should the move to Queen’s Drive go ahead.

“One thing we must do is protect jobs wherever they become threatened, and that’s what these comments were made in relation to.”

He also pointed to ongoing projects, including the multi-million pound redevelopment of the Grand Hall and new leisure and business ventures across the town.

“People sometimes underestimate how much has already been done,” he said. “I’m not looking back to find blame — I’m looking forward to creating something that improves wellbeing, tackles isolation, and leaves a legacy for future generations.

“That’s what drives me, and it hasn’t wavered in 33 years.”

Councillor Boyd insisted his remarks were not a personal attack, insisting: “This is politics – challenge is part of it.

“I’m speaking for people in the town who tell me they feel there’s no direction.

“I’m there every week, I speak to traders and residents – they’re frustrated. That’s not disrespectful; it’s what we’re elected to raise.”

Cllr Boyd also criticised the council for missing the chance to purchase the town’s main shopping centre when it was on the market, saying other towns – such as Paisley, Hamilton, and Falkirk – had been more decisive.

In Paisley, the council developed a vision of the town centre in 2020, with a focus on the Paisley Centre.

The council did not buy the centre, but the company that did is using the ‘vision’ as a blueprint.

That document was put together in 2020, but didn’t stop M&S from leaving Paisley town centre the following year.

In Falkirk, the council have allocated around £70m to building a new town hall and hub after buying the Callander shopping centre when it closed.

And almost a decade ago, North Ayrshire Council narrowly voted against spending £55m to buy the Rivergate Shopping Centre.

All of these were considerably bigger than the Burns Mall, which was on sale for around £2.85m

“The administration has been asleep at the wheel,” he said. “Kilmarnock deserves better.”

Responding, Councillor Barry Douglas acknowledged that “undoubted failures” had occurred but urged councillors to work together rather than fight over blame.

“The reality is we can’t change the past,” he said.

Councillor Douglas called for the council to act on the studies and consultations already completed, rather than commission new ones.

He added that, rather than expand the group to all 14 councillors, they should simply add an additional councillor from Kilmarnock South.

Councillor Reid insisted that having all Kilmarnock Councillors would give each ward an equal voice.

He tabled a motion to include all 14, while Cllr Douglas tabled an amendment proposing a smaller group with one additional member from Ward 5 to ensure full coverage but avoid expansion.

Councillor Reid’s motion was carried by 16 votes to 12.