A leading Cumnock businessman has called for the town to be given a much needed facelift to encourage more people to live and work there.

Stewart Birrell, chairman of the town's business association, has helped run the family sports shop business, Donsport, for the past 42 years.

He is concerned that Cumnock has been allowed to run down in recent times, with vandalised or fire-damaged buildings left lying empty.

Stewart said: "It is not an easy fix.

"The local council needs to step up to the mark because they are letting the place run down a wee bit.

"When people come to the town, you want them to see it in all its glory, and not burned out buildings that have taken nine years to get sorted out.

"If people are think of moving here, it is things like that which stick in the mind."

Stewart says everything possible must be done to stop the predicted population decline in Cumnock.

Stuart Birrell presenting Isabel Robertson with a bouquet of flowers to mark her retirement after 39 years running Knit One Kids Too in January 2023.Stewart Birrell presenting Isabel Robertson with a bouquet of flowers to mark her retirement after 39 years running Knit One Kids Too in January 2023. (Image: Contributed)

He added: "The council needs to help keep the town spruced up, so that it is as place that people want to come.

"Something like a simple tidy up would make a big difference.

"Community groups are doing what they can, and now it is time for the council to play their part."

Stewart would also like to see better transport links between Cumnock, New Cumnock and Auchinleck, with the rail firms and bus companies working together rather than competing against each other.

At present people in Cumnock need to get a bus to Auchinleck or New Cumnock if they are travelling by train to Kilmarnock or Glasgow.

Stewart is also concerned at what he sees as a long term decline in Cumnock since the closure of the mines in the 1980s and then the Falmers Jeans factories.

He recalls the day when Falmers had five premises in the town.

But the firm began shedding jobs when the work was moved to Turkey where labour was cheaper.

While he is encouraged by the amount of house building going on in Cumnock, Stuart says what the town really needs is more industry and employment.

He would like to see start up companies encouraged to locate to the area and take advantage of the good road links.

Stewart is also concerned that Cumnock is becoming a commuter town rather than a place where people come to work.

He says the area as a whole is crying out for new investment.

Stewart added: "As you drive about, you do see villages like New Cumnock and Muirkirk getting smaller, and houses boarded up.

"There needs to be more co-operation between the rail and bus operators.

Stuart Birrell chatting with community police officers on a visit to his Donsport store.Stewart Birrell chatting with community police officers on a visit to his Donsport store. (Image: Newsquest)

"If we are talking about taking the trains back into public ownership, then we should be able to adapt the timetables to suit. 

"I would like to see more investment and jobs brought back into the area.

"Cumnock has never really recovered from losing the coal mines and factories like Falmers.

"It is jobs that are needed in the area but how you bring that about is hard to say."

Stewart, who employs five people, has had to adapt his business to survive, by diversifying into school uniforms as well as selling sports clothing and equipment.

He is also concerned at the numbers of young people who leave the are to go to university then "don't come back".

"If you don't have jobs then people will not come to live here," he added.

"I would like to see the council and the Scottish Government working together and more joined up thinking."

Stewart would also like to see more done to encourage greater numbers of tourists and visitors.

He concluded: "Dumfries House has been a huge draw to the area but we need more initiatives like this."