The Irvine that could have been!

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 image is taken from George McMaster's Collection. You can clearly see that businesses are starting to relocate in readiness for the demolition of the north side of the street. My thanks go to William Strannigan for these comments: '(this) photo contains, in the centre, a cafe owned by Joe Bramanti , run by a Benedetti who's brother I think was Giovanni Benedetti , who's became a millionaire from industrial cleaning clothes, and industrial rags. His daughter is the famous renowned violinist Niccola Benedetti . I spent a lot of time in that cafe, it was across the road from my grandfathers other bakery shop , J.Short and Sons.' I. like many Irvinites, had a deep love of the mutton pies which you could buy, piping hot, in Short's bakery.

This photo was taken by George McMaster.

This photo was taken by George McMaster.

This photo was taken by George McMaster, possibly in the 1960s(?). We are looking from the current location of the junction of Kilwinning Road and the Northern Approach Road, almost due south towards the historic town centre. The distant spire (in the centre, to the left of 2nd concrete lamppost) belongs to the 1774 Irvine Old Parish Church: www.flickr.com/photos/crawfordfulton/7709148580/in/set-72...