The Irvine that could have been!

This photo was taken by George McMaster. We are looking to the south west from Irvine Moor towards the twin coffer dams, in which the piers of the bridge of the Northern Approach Road are being constructed (the shuttering, into which concrete is due to be poured, is seen in the western coffer dam). To the top left is Waterside, with the buildings belonging to Ayrshire Metal Products beyond. To the top right of the image is the Ardeer Peninsula.

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?

This is the view of this historic street after the demolition of the northern side of it. Still to be demolished is one of my favourite buildings, the British Linen Bank (the ornate red sandstone structure on the right of the photo). It is to be regretted that the Irvine Development Corporation failed to adequately record this and many other notable buildings in the town, prior to destroying them.

This photo was taken by George McMaster.

This photo was taken by George McMaster. A view of the western 'face' of the ancient Burgh, taken from Fullarton Street at the end of the 60s/beginning of the 70s. All three villas in this photo were demolished shown depicted in this image (centre and right) were demolished shortly after this shot was taken. Two of the town's three major skyline features can be seen here: the steeple of the Town House (1862) on the extreme right, and Trinity Church (1862-96) just to the left of centre. On the extreme left of this image is the western end of Bridgegate (all of these properties met a similar fate to that suffered by the villas, within a few years of this date).

This image was taken by George McMaster.