AFTER a decade Ballantrae Gala has been cancelled as a result of funding being withdrawn from the council.

The decision, which was announced last Tuesday night, was reiterated at the Public Processes Panel held at South Ayrshire Council the following day.

Linden Hunt, one of the organisers, said: "We say Ballantrae will not go ahead this year but I am still looking for a way to keep it.

"I am all for Gala in a Box. But a lot of volunteers are elderly woman who do not have the energy to go on.

"This comes with no information or consultation. We feel like we are nothing. We need the information on a regular basis.

"It is no good having Gala in a Box funding in place until 2020 but not having funding sorted out afterwards. We need a solution now.

"We need consent information and consultation. I have contacted Dumfries and Galloway Council, as we were led to believe it was being tested there, but they knew nothing about it. 

"The called it something else. Their community council did not know anything about it either."

The meeting addressed how Gala in a Box would provide equipment to designated areas in South Ayrshire until 2020. 

Speaking at the meeting Cllr Alec Clark said: "We are disappointed with the result as there was a chance for cooperative working. 

"There is a chance for community building but it needs supported. The council says they will provide stalls but volunteers are to build them themselves.

"How are they supposed to do that? It was another slap in the face."

Ballantrae Community Association have been running the gala as volunteers for 10 years but the key players are stepping down.

This will be formally announced at the AGM on Monday, March 20 at 7pm. Interested residents are being encouraged to keep the association going and the community hall in use.