Former West Kilbride rail worker releases book

A retired former railway worker from West Kilbride has published his first book, looking back on a remarkable 32-year career on the railways. Douglas Tetlow’s memoir, Now Departing From Platform 54 – A 32-year Long Railway Journey, is now available in paperback and eBook and has also been donated to Saltcoats Library. Tetlow, who now lives in Saltcoats, joined British Railways in 1972 as a leading railman at West Kilbride before moving into a series of operational and clerical roles […]

20/07/2026 14

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Ayrshire care provider gets inspection praise

An Irvine-based care provider supporting hundreds of people across Ayrshire has received strong praise following a recent inspection. Delight Supported Living Ltd, which provides care to older people and adults with physical disabilities across East, North and South Ayrshire, was inspected during an unannounced three-day visit by the Care Inspectorate. Inspectors awarded the service a "very good" rating for supporting people's wellbeing and a "good" rating for leadership. The report praised the team's person-centred approach, detailed care planning and well-trained […]

20/07/2026 15

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Council funding to tackle gum problem

South Ayrshire Council has received fresh funding to help remove chewing gum from streets in Prestwick. The council has secured a £25,530 grant from Keep Britain Tidy through the Chewing Gum Task Force. The funding will be used to clean gum from Main Street in Prestwick this September while also promoting campaigns encouraging people to dispose of chewing gum responsibly. The initiative follows similar work carried out in Troon last year. South Ayrshire Council has since invested in specialist gum-removal […]

20/07/2026 16

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Ayrshire’s favourite ice cream ranked

Ayrshire and Arran’s favourite ice cream flavour has been named in a new survey released ahead of National Ice Cream Day. Scottish Tablet topped the list with Raspberry Ripple placing second locally, while Belgian Chocolate claimed third place. The results came from Equi’s Ice Cream, which analysed sales data from more than 500 stockists across Scotland, including supermarkets, independent retailers and ice cream parlours. Family-run Equi’s, founded in 1922, produces more than 60 flavours using locally sourced milk and cream […]

20/07/2026 11

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Spanish aircraft draws Prestwick crowd

Hundreds of aviation enthusiasts gathered around Prestwick Airport over the weekend to watch the arrival and departure of four rare Spanish Harrier aircraft. The Spanish Navy's EAV-8B Harrier II jets flew in from a detachment in the United States. Based at Rota Naval Station in southern Spain, the aircraft are famous for their ability to take off and land vertically without needing a conventional runway. Large crowds of plane spotters to the airport’s viewing areas followed flight-tracking apps to catch […]

20/07/2026 16

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Residents warned of fly-tipping penalty risks

North Ayrshire Council are being residents that they could "inadvertently" put themselves at risk of fly-tipping following recent discoveries at clothes banks. The local authority issued the warning today after sightings of discarded bags next to clothes point bins, warning that a financial penalty is possible. They assured that many people across the region "do their best to support good causes" through clothes donations to charity shops and clothing banks. Any donations left on the ground beside bins are said […]

10/07/2026 30

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4G masts set to boost rural signal

Mobile phone coverage in parts of rural Ayrshire is set to improve after new 4G mast upgrades were activated through the UK Government's Shared Rural Network programme. Among the areas expected to benefit are Ayr, Carrick, Girvan, and Sliddery on the Isle of Arran. The programme has now brought 50 upgraded 4G masts online across Scotland, aiming to improve connectivity for residents, businesses and visitors while helping tackle long-standing mobile signal blackspots.

10/07/2026 17

News

Ayrshire snubbed by UK Town of Culture

Ayr and Kilmarnock have both missed out on the shortlist to become the UK's first-ever Town of Culture in 2028. Applications were submitted by South Ayrshire Council for Ayr and East Ayrshire Council for Kilmarnock, but neither town was included among the final 15 shortlisted locations. The competition attracted 398 applications from across the UK, with shortlisted towns each receiving £60,000 to prepare a full bid. The eventual winner will receive a £3 million grant to deliver a major programme […]

10/07/2026 20

News

Three towns councils in funding concern

Concerns have been raised over how £20 million of Pride in Place funding could be distributed across the Three Towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston. Stevenston Community Council claims an equal split between the three towns would leave Stevenston's identified neighbourhoods receiving significantly less funding than other areas. The group has also questioned how community representation on the new funding board could be arranged. North Ayrshire Council has responded by saying no decisions have been made and that the newly […]

10/07/2026 17