Campaigners make 'inept' jibe as they urge council to restore Prestwick steeple

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Council chiefs are being urged to restore a town's historic jewel to its former glory — once and for all.Campaigners in Prestwick want the beleaguered Freeman's Hall reunited with its missing steeple.Removed in 2011 on safety grounds, the B-Listed structure has been without its iconic spire ever since.And despite a groundswell of public opinion backing its return, South Ayrshire bosses remain unmoved.But now officials, citing repair costs of around £600,000, are coming under renewed pressure to cut through red tape.Alasdair Malcolm, part of a group calling for the steeple's return, said: "We're talking about a building which has stood in Prestwick since 1844, serving as everything from a school to a jail to town buildings."What should originally have been relatively minor repairs on the steeple has escalated into this, frankly, farcical situation.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android."And what we've seen from the four standing local councillors on this issue has been total ineptitude."It's also been neglect of the building from the local authority — a building they have full responsibility for as custodians and as tenants."It is beyond embarrassing."Mr Malcolm and others in the town argue that a previous council decision to block any repair — on grounds of cost — should now be revisited, giving officers the power to act.Resident Alex Young added: "More than 80 per