THE future of Cumnock’s Precinct is set to be FINALLY decided behind closed doors today (Wednesday).

Council chiefs will confirm the facility’s long-term future in a private meeting before disclosing details later this week.

And it should bring an end to a saga that has frustrated shopkeepers and locals over two decades of inaction.

The Chronicle has consistently questioned WHY it has taken the local authority so long to deal with an ageing Precinct that has been left to rot.

And why now, with a decision imminent, there remains so much secrecy about the way forward.

One shopkeeper said: “We had a meeting with the Council about eight weeks ago and there has been silence ever since.

“It is frustrating for all of us. I just hope Wednesday is the end of things - but you never know with this council.” Last summer, we reported how EAC had confirmed at a Cabinet meeting that demolishing the Precinct and replacing it with a landscaped area was the preferred option.

They made that decision after finally admitting defeat after years of trying to persuade a large supermarket to move into the site.

Morrisons had been close to agreeing to move but when that failed to materialise it scuppered all plans to renovate the decrepit development.

It’s understood that talks have taken place with Farmfoods - who are already have a small shop in the centre - with a view to them expanding their current base once the centre has been demolished.

There are only six businesses in the facility and they are still likely to move to brand new units across from Timbermills.

But until the moves are signed and sealed they are not holding their breath after so many u-turns over the years.

Back in 2011, we reported how council chiefs hoped to demolish the site that year to be replaced by a 'premier shopping destination’.

That didn’t happened and last year they admitted defeat in their bid to save the precinct and decided to demolish it and listed six possible options.

It had appeared that landscaping the site and moving the units to Townhead Street was the way forward until recent developments.

A Council spokesperson said: “A paper has been lodged for Cabinet on March 19. It will be a pink paper as it includes commercially confidential information about all of the existing traders at the Centre.”