ORGANISERS will still have to fund their own Christmas lights in Troon and Prestwick.

A motion to approve a budget of £30,000 to fund lighting in all towns and villages outside Ayr was rejected by councillors last week.

Councillor Hugh Hunter, seconded by Councillor Martin Dowey proposed: "The council further agrees to provide the Ayrshire Roads Alliance with a budget of £30,000 to allow Christmas lighting in the towns and villages outside of Ayr to be erected and removed without charge to the local organising groups. 

"This budget may also allow road closures and diversions, for Christmas lighting switch-on events, to be put in place without charge to the local organising groups. 

"It will also allow for the replacement of some of the poorer quality Council owned Christmas lighting in these communities.

"This decision to be funded, in 2017/18, by drawing on the Council’s uncommitted reserves. Future funding of these initiatives to be considered as part of the budget setting process for 2018/19.”

The motion was discussed at a full council meeting at the county buildings last Thursday, June 29. After the proposal was rejected Cllr Hugh Hunter expressed his disappointment at the decision.

Cllr Hunter explained: "I am very disappointment that the motion did not go through because communities need our help with these events.

"Ayr gets all its lighting provided for them. Why are the other towns and villages expected to fund their own resources. This is just not fair. We need to try and help them with traffic management.

"It is disgraceful that the administration voted against that. The community have just got to help themselves but we should be supporting them."