NEW flowers have been popping up all around Saltcoats town centre - thanks to the Community Council.

In recent months, their members have been out and about in the town and are determined to make Saltcoats look more attractive.

Saltcoats CC Secretary Hazel Haddow said: “The feeling has been that the image of a town can attract more businesses, more visitors which can only be a good thing for our seaside town.

“We hear (and see on Facebook) so often that Saltcoats is not the town it used to be, and personally I think that’s a fair comment ... but most towns are seeing more and more empty shops, fewer town users and preference for internet shopping.

“When we were in the town, we were surprised to hear so many people from out of town, lots from Glasgow visiting the town because of family and the beach and Sandylands. People are still visiting - let’s try keep them visiting. Flowers alone in the town will not do this but it is a step forward for people to see that Three Towners do take pride in the towns and that we are trying.”

And the flowers and hanging baskets are just the start for Saltcoats CC who are busy planning for a food festival within the town for next year and this will follow on from their successful Bake-Off event from earlier this year. They are also getting help locally to ensure the flowers stay up to a high standard.

Hazel said: “Hanging baskets used to be done by the council, so we decided hanging baskets plus new railing troughs are a start.

“Hazeldene still had the baskets in their yard so we collected them plus bought the troughs, plants and good compost with funding we applied for. Plants (from garden centres) and compost were delivered to the Three Towns Growers site where a group of our volunteers plus Three Towns Growers volunteers helped. Community payback has agreed to water the baskets and troughs when needed. The plan is to plant out twice a year.”

Saltcoats CC are always looking for new members and they meet every month in Saltcoats Town Hall with the next meeting taking place on Monday, June 18 at 7pm.

Visit their website at www.saltcoatscommunitycouncil.org or email infosaltcoatscc@gmail.com