AN ELDERLY resident of Ayr’s riverside flats feels the council have let him down by forcing him to leave his home.

James Ireland, 85, said the whole idea of moving will bring him extra stress but has vowed to fight South Ayrshire Councillors on their decision to demolish the three blocks of flats.

After spending 18 years in the high rises, he is not willing to let go and has been left baffled at some of the options put forward.

James said: “I did not want to go in the first place, but you have no choice with this. When the girls from the council visited me the attitude was the decision has been made no matter what you say.

“They want me to move in two years, two years down the line I could be leaving this place in a box, no one knows what’s going to happen to me when I’m 87.”

“It will be a struggle to move. They suggested moving to Troon or Prestwick, why would I want to move all the way there at this age?”

James joined hundreds of disgruntled residents at a meeting earlier in the summer at the Auld Kirk led by community councillors for Fort, Seafield and Wallacetoun.

It was there that he told his neighbours he felt “pressurised” into choosing a certain option.

He added: “You keep going until you get hammered down, or you give up at the first hurdle.”

A spokesperson for South Ayrshire Council said: “As part of the consultation and engagement process each household was provided with a consultation guide outlining each of the options, two open days were held at Riverside Place giving households the opportunity to speak to staff and each household was visited individually by a Housing Officer.

“The council’s decision took into account the feedback received from tenants on their preferred option.

“Housing Officers are carrying out further visits to tenants to discuss their housing options and preferences which will inform the implementation plan.

“The council’s priority is to ensure tenants are kept fully informed and supported throughout this period.”