The Role of the Troon Community Council

Health and Wellbeing have aquired a loan of posts for nets for 2 courts from Scottish Volleyball and they are arranging for their installation on Troon beach for the summer season.

These will be placed far enough from the prom wall to allow SAC to continue to manage/ maintain the beach.

Health and Wellbeing are planning to host school and community events over the summer.

In addition West Coast Beach Volleyball are proposing to host the first UK Beach Tour (UKBT) Event to be hosted in Scotland.

The agreed dates for the competition with the UKBT are the weekend of the 19th June, and the intention is to host both men’s and women’s competitions on the Saturday, starting at about 9am, and finishing in the evening.

Our plan would be to go to the beach on the Friday night to set up the two show courts, and arrive early on Saturday morning to set up the other 6 “pop up” courts.  All courts will be taken down on the completion of the event on the Saturday night.

ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE ON A77 SPITTALHILL TO LAYBY WILL COMMENCE 24^th MAY

Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland as part of the Network Management Contract for the South West Trunk Road Unit, are undertaking essential maintenance on the Northbound A77 from Spittalhill off slip road. Work will take place from Monday 24^th May to Thursday 3^rd June 2021.

• The first phase of this work be completed under overnight closures from 8pm to 6am commencing on Monday 24^th May to Friday 28^th May(inclusive). The road will re-open as normal outwith these times.
• The second phase of this work will utilise a continuous full weekend closure from 8pm on Friday 28^th May until 6am on Monday 31^st May.
• The third phase of this work will then be completed overnight from 8pm to 6am commencing on Monday 31^st May to Wednesday 2nd June(inclusive). Works are anticipated to be completed the morning ofThursday 3^rd June. The road will re-open as normal outwith these times.

Phase one and three of these works will require a northbound closure from the Spittalhill off slip to Bellfield Interchange with traffic diverting off at Spittalhill off slip and following Ayr Rd / Hurlford Rd / Queens Drive to re-join at Bellfield Interchange.

Phase two of the works requires a full northbound closure from Dutch House Roundabout to Bellfield Interchange, with local access being maintained. A signed diversion route via the A78 and A71 will be in operation.

Traffic will be diverted from the northbound A77 at Dutch House Roundabout to join the westbound A78 to Monktonhead Roundabout, and from here continue on the northbound A78 to Warrix Interchange. From here, vehicles will follow the eastbound A71 to Bellfield Interchange to re-join the northbound A77.

PLEASE NOTE: A Resident’s Pass system will be in operation.

A valid Residents Pass will allow access through Amey works involving a full closure of the carriageway. The pass only provides access for the extent of the closure.

– This pass is only valid for those living or working at properties within the extent of the road closure
– For normal travel, signed diversion routes must be followed
– Each pass is only valid for the specified scheme and from the start to end date of the scheme
– Passes can be printed out or shown on a smartphone
– Passes must be shown to road stewards when approaching works and the pass must be carried for access to be provided
– Road stewards maintain the right to refuse access through the works to anyone not carrying a valid pass or if is not deemed safe or viable to allow access at that time, i.e. the road surface is not suitable for travel
– Takeaway and other deliveries to addresses within the closure will be permitted, but those outwith the closure should use the agreed diversion. However, to assist with the smooth and timely delivery of this scheme please could we ask residents to consider the timing of any orders while these closures are scheduled
– You may be asked to provide proof of residency, i.e. driver’s license.

We do not tolerate any threats, abuse or reckless behaviour that poses a risk to our workforce or the travelling public. Any evidence of such incidents recorded via roadside camera, body cam or other device may be provided to the relevant authorities in such cases.

Please apply for a pass via our website: https://swtrunkroads.scot/scottish-south-west-trunk-roads/a77-m77/a77-spittalhill/

Our operatives will follow strict physical distancing and hygiene protocols throughout the programme, in line with the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 guidance.

Please note, all schemes are weather dependent and may be cancelled or rescheduled if weather conditions are not favourable.

• A free Road Work Alerts service is available from our website: https://swtrunkroads.scot/roadwork-alerts/ An email address is all that is required to sign up for the service.
• To report a problem on the network please visit: https://swtrunkroads.scot/report-a-problem/
• Real-time journey information can be obtained by visitingwww.trafficscotland.org  or via Twitter: @TrafficScotland

Key facts about Scottish South West Trunk Roads Unit

Amey delivers engineering design and operational delivery services for Scotland’s South West Trunk Roads Network.

These services include the design and delivery of major road and bridge maintenance work, as well as inspections to ensure the routes remain safe and well maintained.

Amey carry out salting, snow clearing and gully cleaning as well as the repair of motorway lighting and traffic signals.

The South West Trunk Roads Network covers over 600 Km of road through south west Scotland, including the Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire and Inverclyde and key stretches of the M8 motorway around Glasgow.

Key facts about Amey

Amey is one of the top five support services suppliers in the UK. We employ 16,000 people, have a turnover of £2.1bn and a strong forward order-book.

Every household in Britain benefits from the work we do. We maintain the UK’s road and rail infrastructure, keep schools safe and clean, manage the UK’s defence estate, safely escort prisoners and keep prisons and courts secure. We also collect and process waste, as well as deliver utilities services.

All of this is underpinned by our leading consulting capabilities which uses engineering design and data analytics to better manage the services we all use and rely on.

Amey is owned by Ferrovial, one of the world’s leading infrastructure management and investment companies. Ferrovial has more than 96,000 employees and a presence in over 15 countries. It is a member of Spain’s blue-chip IBEX 35 index and is also included in prestigious sustainability indices such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and FTSE4Good. Ferrovial’s activities focus on four2 business sectors: construction, airports, toll roads and services. Amey is part of the services division.

Asymptomatic Testing Site moving to Troon next week

Rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing will be available for people without symptoms in South Ayrshire next week.

The community testing initiative, in partnership with the Scottish Government; Scottish Fire and Rescue; University of West of Scotland (UWS); and the three local authorities in Ayrshire and Arran, aims to drive down local COVID-19 rates and transmission by identifying positive cases more quickly, as people can spread the virus to others before symptoms appear.

Residents who don’t have any of the three COVID-19 symptoms (a new continuous cough, high temperature, loss or change in sense of taste or smell) are encouraged to get tested.

Lynne McNiven, Director of Public Health for NHS Ayrshire & Arran, explains: “Testing will help us to identify more cases of the virus and give us all a better chance of stopping it from spreading.

“It is important that you are tested regularly, particularly if you are a key worker and must attend work. These centres are there to be used as regularly as you need to. Make sure you check the website regularly so you know when we are in your area.”

There is no need to book, and testing is available at the following location for a two week period from Monday 22 March:

• Troon Concert Hall, Municipal Building, South Beach, Troon – 10.00am – 6.00pm

This site is only for people without symptoms. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should book a test in the usual way via www.nhsinform.scot or by calling 0800 028 2816.

Residents will be tested using lateral flow devices (LFD), which can give people their results in around 45 minutes. Any positive cases will then be confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.

Anyone who receives a positive LFD or PCR test result will be asked to self-isolate.

Dedicated support is available to South Ayrshire residents who need to self-isolate, including access to food, pharmacy and financial support. People who need help should call 01292 616101 or visit https://beta.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/coronavirus .

Further advice and information on what support is available for people who need to self-isolate is available from nhsinform.scot.

Lynne McNiven adds: “However, a test only tells us if we are positive at the point in time that we are being tested. It does not mean that we can stop following all of the rules and guidelines which are in place to protect all of us.

“The FACTS guidance remains as important as ever. This will help to protect our families, communities and the NHS.”

• F – Face coverings. These should be used in shops and on public transport (buses, trains and taxis);
• A – Avoid crowded places;
• C – Clean your hands frequently, using water and soap whenever possible;
• T – Two metres – observe physical distancing;
• S – Self-isolate and book a test if you are suffering from COVID-19 symptoms.

Rapid testing for COVID-19 for people with and without symptoms is coming to South Ayrshire. Read the press releases here.

COVID Symptomatic MTUs WB 22 Feb Draft PR

COVID Symptomatic MTUs WB 1 March – PR WB 1 Mar 21

COVID Symptomatic MTUs WB 1 March – PR WB 1 Mar 21 (1)

The Scottish Government announced earlier this week that South Ayrshire will move to Level 3 of its Local Protection Levels from 6.00 pm today. This is good news as it means we are clearly taking the right action in our communities to suppress the spread of the virus. The move to Level 3 will see some changes to our services:
 
Our Sport and Leisure facilities will re-open on Saturday 12 December and gym and swim bookings are now live

From Monday 14 December, our libraries will begin to offer their Connect and Collect service and book returns in all branches. To support our customers, there will be no late fees charged for any borrowed items until further notice, and our free e-reader offer of newspapers, books and magazines can still be accessed.
 
Museums and galleries, including Rozelle House, The Maclaurin Art Gallery and the Grain Exchange will re-open on Saturday 12 December. The McKechnie Institute will re-open on Tuesday 15 December.
 
Golf retail premises at Belleisle Park and Troon Links re-opened from 9.00 am today. Golf Clubhouse toilet facilities at Belleisle Park and Troon Links will re-open from 8.00 am tomorrow (Saturday 12 December). The Stables café will also re-open tomorrow with their normal winter opening hours of 10.00 am to 3.00 pm. Members’ guests will also be reintroduced at all locations tomorrow (guests must be South Ayrshire residents)
 
Information and updates on our services and current public health guidance is available on our social media channels, The Core and the website. I’d appreciate if you would continue to help us spread the word and keep everyone informed by sharing the links to our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts with your friends and family

Please remember that, although we have moved to Level 3, travel restrictions remain the same, and you should not travel outwith your local authority area. You can read more about Level 3 guidance and what this means for you and your families on the Scottish Government website
 
It was also confirmed by the Education Secretary, John Swinney, that the 2021 Higher and Advanced Higher exams will be replaced by awards based on teacher judgement of individual pupil attainment. I know that this year has been extremely challenging for pupils and, as has been the case throughout this pandemic, our fantastic teaching and school staff will be there to ensure our young people are well supported and achieve their full potential. We are now awaiting further guidance from the SQA and, if you are a parent or carer in South Ayrshire, schools will keep you and pupils updated.

We’ve got some good news for children and young people who are entitled to free school meals. Thanks to additional funding from the Scottish Government, parents and carers of eligible school age children will receive a one off payment of £30.00 per child into their bank accounts on Tuesday 22 December. This will cover the period from Wednesday 23 December 2020 to Tuesday 5 January 2021.
 
The Scottish Government has also announced funding to help people pay for food, heating, warm clothing and shelter during the winter. The £100m winter support package will help those on low incomes, children and people at risk of homelessness or social isolation cope with winter weather and the economic impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) and Brexit.

We are hoping to make life a bit easier for residents with the launch of our new bins and recycling app ‘SAC MyBins’ on Monday 14 December. From reporting missed bins to booking special uplifts, the app will allow you to organise all of your household waste needs on the go. The free to use app, which was designed with Albion Environmental Ltd, includes features such as – personalised collection calendars; advice, tips and information on recycling; and access to online forms to report problems. The bin calendar function will let you see at a glance which bin is due for collection. So there will be no more relying on your neighbours to put their bins out first! You can even use the app to set up collection day reminders on your phone or tablet. Another great benefit of the app is the facility to contact the Council about waste collection services, such as special uplifts, direct from the app. There will also be a function which allows you to access the latest Council news and service alerts. You’ll find SAC MyBins on the app store on most mobile Apple and Android devices from Monday 14 December
 
The Employee Deal outlines our commitment to you, and our expectations of you in return. To help embed the Deal and plan for recovery, we want to hear your views on how COVID-19 has affected the way you work. A short survey for all staff has been developed which focuses on three areas: Wellbeing, Communication, and Homeworking. The survey will help us understand what impact COVID-19 may have on your health and wellbeing; develop an understanding of how we can maintain effective contact with you; and understand how changes to the way we work has affected you. The survey is available on The Core, and I’d appreciate if you would actively promote the survey across your teams. The survey is completely anonymous (you will only be asked to select your Service Lead and area) and is open until Friday 15 January. If you need any further information, please contact James.Andrew@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
 
Our Budget Consultation Survey launched online earlier this week and we’d like to hear what you think. For example, should we look at raising or introducing fees for some services? Or change the way we deliver services, such as having fewer face to face services, or stop delivering some services altogether? This is your opportunity to get involved – the survey is available now and will be open until Friday 15 January 2021.

Each year, managers, team leaders and supervisors are required to calculate their own employees’ annual leave entitlement. A useful guide is now available on The Core to help you with the calculations. The public holidays for 2021 are also available to assist with this exercise. The guide also provides information on how to add entitlement to your employee records; carry forward any unused days from 2020; and add Enhanced Leave days. Due to the impact of COVID-19, there are changes to carrying forward annual leave. Details about this can also be found on The Core. If you have any queries that are not covered in the guide please email flexiusersupport@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

I am sure many of you will be aware that we are in the process of implementing Microsoft Office 365. M365 will bring a whole new suite of applications which will enhance the way we communicate and operate; one being Microsoft Teams. Access to Microsoft Teams has now been granted for staff who have Windows 10 and have been allocated the relevant M365 licence. Due to the number of requests from services to be able to use Teams for meetings and calls, we have decided to give access to this earlier than expected. Teams is a collaborative workspace, and there will be many more new functions rolled out over the coming months; however, at the moment, we have to limit this to Teams meetings only.
 
Our ICT team has worked really hard throughout the pandemic to keep us connected, and make it possible for more of us to carry out our work from home. At the moment, ICT support is provided from the office at McCalls Avenue, Ayr, however, this is strictly by appointment and for exceptional circumstances only. To ensure the safety of all staff, access to the building is not permitted without an appointment. In line with previous years, we will provide a reduced ICT support service for those of you who will be working over the festive period between Tuesday 29 and Thursday 31 December. If you have any issues or problems, please contact the ICT Service Desk at ict.servicedesk@south-ayrshire.gov.uk, or by calling 01292 612406

The winter edition of SAC Live Magazine is available on line. This edition features information on our budget consultation, Primary One photographs and tips on staying active during winter from our Health and Wellbeing team. We’re switching to quarterly editions of the magazine, which will now be available both online and in hard copy
 
Our Trading Standards and Environmental Health team works tirelessly to ensure we are all kept safe, even more so throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m delighted to tell you that the team has been recognised for its efforts in this year’s APSE awards as finalists in the Best Service Team: Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Regulatory Service category. This nomination highlights the work the team has been doing during the pandemic to ensure businesses and organisations are operating safely

Today is National Christmas Jumper Day which we normally use as an opportunity to sport our best festive attire to raise funds for our employee charity partner. Due to Council buildings being closed, we are unable to provide traditional donation buckets, however, I know that some of you may still wish to make a donation to Ayrshire Cancer Support. You can find out more about the charity and how to donate on their website. The charity is also working to relieve the isolation and uncertainty felt by so many people affected by cancer, and face a lonely and anxious Christmas.
 
Finally this week, staff and pupils at Forehill Primary School have written and recorded a wonderful, uplifting song which promotes a message of love and hope in the run up to Christmas. The song, which was written by Principal Teacher, Lee McDowall, is called ‘Let Love In’. One special video version of the song even includes children performing the song using Makaton sign language. The school has released the song on a number of digital platforms and plan to make it available on CD early next week, with funds raised from this being donated to the Ayrshire Hospice. There’s no miss or maybe – it’s definitely a hit from me! I’m sure you’ll join me in congratulating the whole school for its efforts. or its efforts.

As with everything else, Wintertainment has been cancelled due to COVID-19. However this Sunday, the Christmas lights will be switched on to brighten the festive season. Shop local, but safely.

Please find attached an information sheet explaining how access to urgent care will change in Ayrshire and Arran from 3 November 2020.

https://www.gov.scot/news/helping-people-get-the-right-care-in-the-right-place/

Fullarton Woods is up for an award

https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/local-environmental-quality/green-flag-award/awarded-parks/

As we begin the recovery phase of the Scottish Governments Phase 3 Recovery plan, changes are being made to the way health and care services are delivered to enable some Outpatient Services to re-start. These services will be operating with social distancing measures in place in order to keep patients and staff safe, and prevent the spread of the coronavirus which is still present.

It is important that we all continue to adhere to these social distancing measures and to re-inforce the distancing, hand-sanitising, mask wearing message to our client groups and staff so they understand why these measures are required and understand the need to protect themselves and others.

To help spread the message to our residents and communities we would be grateful if you could display the attached advice sheet and poster about restarting Outpatients Services where you can. There is also a video which might be helpful. The Information can also be accessed and shared via the Caring for Ayrshire Facebook, Twitter and web page – www.nhsaaa.net/caring-for-ayrshire