Also attending the event were local prospective candidates for the Scottish Parliament elections which will be held in May. The committee had arranged a coffee morning with displays of the proposed route for a by-pass and ran a DVD produced by Carrick Academy pupils which outlined the case for a by-pass. After the presentation, the prospective candidates were invited to outline their thoughts on the need for a by-pass and how a date for starting it could be established.

It has long been agreed by all the political parties in the Scottish Parliament that the case for a by-pass for Maybole has been well proven. It was agreed many years before the creation of the Parliament that for Maybole to be able to progress as a viable modern town in a tourist area a by-pass was an absolute essential. However, although the case for a by-pass has been accepted, the planned route is not in the Scottish Government’s Road Building Programme for some time to come. The Bypass Committee now feel that it is time for the town to remind those in power that this problem will not go away and is growing steadily worse day by day.

Richard Leonard, Scottish Labour Party, said he well understood the problem of congestion, and he had no hesitation in supporting the campaign for a bypass. “We must do all we can to convey the crucial importance that Maybole people attach to the future of the High Street to those in power. “I have no hesitation in supporting this and it is worth remembering that Keir Hardie had commented that politicians respond to pressure. “We need to fight shoulder to shoulder to do what is necessary to get a bypass.” Peter Kennerley, Conservative Party, lives on the A77 and said that he knew exactly how things are and he had no doubt about the need for a by-pass. He added, “I have been impressed by the strength of local feeling and support. “A tremendous amount of work has been and you have my wholehearted support for a by-pass which is vital to the town.”

With 12 years experience as an MSP Adam Ingram, Scottish National Party, said he was very familiar with the issue which is a key one for local people. “An important quality is persistence,” he added, “and Maybole people have been persistent in their campaign. “The project, with a preferred route, is sitting there on the shelf so the question is how we get it to happen. “The new estimates for building the Forth Road Bridge show considerable savings which could be helpful in getting a Maybole Bypass. “We have to work together on this.” Great stress was put on cross-party cooperation and it was pointed out that Maybole was the only bypass proposal which had the support of all parties including the Green Party.

There was a very lively question and answer session which brought about some good proposals for taking the campaign forward and Peter Mason, chair of the By-Pass Committee immediately announced that a meeting of the committee would be held in the Town hall on Wednesday March 30. He went on to thank the three prospective candidates, those who had attended and especially his committee members who had put in so much hard work. He also thanked Rory for his car sticker design and congratulated him on winning the competition .