67 and 71 NEW TOWN PLANS - by Crawford Fulton
This time we are going to have a wee look at the 'thinking' behind the shape of the whole new town. The first plan (1967) showed the locations of various land uses and the proposed road network; as you can see from the photo, it also showed the creation of a new town centre, somewhere to the south of Stanecastle. The 1971 plan moved the town centre to an area due west of Irvine's historic Cross. This necessitated: the demolition of a 400 year old bridge; the complete destruction of the heart of Fullarton (a separate community until the late 19th Century); the devastation of most of Waterside, a beautiful, tranquil, part of the town; the creation of ugly settings for three of the town's churches (Trinity, Wilson Fullarton and Fullarton); the visual cutting off of the town centre from the Harbouside; and the creation of a very poor impression of the Royal Burgh from the railway station. I could produce a very long list of other adverse consequences which flowed from this 1971 plan revision. To sum up this 1971 Masterplan in two words: 'completely nuts'.
It has been said that the relocation of the town centre was due to pressure the town's traders. I find it hard to believe that the IDC ever listened to anyone's objections to anything.
BOURTREEHILL - by Crawford Fulton
I thought that you might like to see the 1971 'vision' for the area (see photo collage). Having read the Plan, I am struggling to understand it. It talks about not creating 'neighbourhoods', yet what are 'The Village' and Broomlands Gate, but neighbourhood centres? The road layout is one of the most contentious parts of the plan, with the multiple culs-de-sac causing all sorts of headaches for the emergency services trying to gain access to addresses in the area. As for the artist's impressions shown in this collage - what were they on? My favourite is the building with the slanted roof and the 'cut-oot bits' , which looks like the housing for a pit's winding gear. This is very appropriate, as the plans to expand Bourtreehill to Perceton were scuppered by old mineworkings! If you live, or have lived, in Bourtreehill, I would love to hear your thoughts on the plan. After it came off the drawing board and went on site, has it achieved the creation of a good place in which to live?
Aerial view of The Royal Burgh of Irvine circa 1970 - by Crawford Fulton
