IT has been suggested by South Ayrshire Council that the seafront at Troon needs "regenerated".

Part of this so-called "regeneration" plan is to put additional retail units along the prom, have multi-coloured benches and build a skateboard/BMX park. All of which, with a cash strapped council struggling to fund for urgent repairs and so on, seems like a total waste of public money.

As local residents whose homes overlook this area, we and all of our neighbours strongly object to this proposal. The town has many empty retail units already, so why not upgrade them and give the town in general a facelift to attract visitors?

Troon is very popular with visitors from Glasgow and surrounding areas, as it's easy to reach and the prom is so pleasant to go for a stroll, walk the dog or bring the kids with their bikes. We have chatted to numerous visitors who remark on how good it is to walk along the prom without all the tacky stalls and the like which many seaside towns have nowadays.

One of the main complaints is how short the town is of parking areas. Would it not be more beneficial for the council to tackle this problem?

Please help us to stop this ruination of a lovely seafront before it goes any further. Send an e-mail to south-ayrshire.gov.uk stating your objection to this development.

Eddie and Marion Adams,

9 Portland Terrace, Troon.

WHILE on a short break in Port Appin last weekend, my wife and I decided to pay a visit to the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary just north of Oban. We had been there a good number of years ago and had found it to be both interesting and enjoyable.

This time was very different. As we approached from the car park we encountered a young couple and toddler on a visit from Europe. They were clearly angry and very disgusted by their experience in the Sanctuary but we did continue in to see for ourselves.

There was a woman on the customer side of the counter dressed in a ludicrous wig and trying to be amusing (it was Halloween) and another behind the counter whom we addressed. She advised us that the seals "were away on holiday to England" as the aquarium was closed for refurbishment and then said there was only one otter. So we said we'd just look round the little shop and were advised that we couldn't do that unless we paid the entry fee. On inquiring she said it would be £24.40 for the two of us, and that was for two very senior citizens.

Needless to say we were not at all tempted by this so she then said she would throw in two free entry tickets for our next visit. We refused to pay and advised her that we would just go through to have a coffee in the tearoom but were then told that we had to pay the entry fee before we could go anywhere.

What a dreadful advert for Scotland: it was embarrassing. It wouldn't do a lot of good for the tearoom takings either.

David Dunlop,

Seamews, Whim Road, Gullane.

WHAT a tonic was Russell Leadbetter’s At Large column (“’Some folk want to moan at you but others find it confessional’”, The Herald, October 31).

Taxi driver George McIntosh should write a book – warts and all. It would be a best-seller.

I thought that his no-nonsense response to the two abusive father/husband individuals was particularly appropriate. More power to your elbow, Mr McIntosh.

Brian D Henderson,

44 Dundrennan Road, Battlefield, Glasgow.