Doonfoot

Doonfoot
Scots: Doonfitcode: sco is deprecated
Doonfoot  Doonfoot shown within South Ayrshire
OS grid reference	NS321190
Council area	South Ayrshire
Lieutenancy area	Ayrshire and Arran
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	AYR
Postcode district	KA7
Dialling code	01292
Police	Scottish
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
Scottish Parliament	Ayr
List of places UK Scotland

Doonfoot is a part of the town of Ayr in south-west Scotland.

History

The area known as Doonfoot was incorporated as part of the town of Ayr when the former Burgh of Ayr's boundaries were expanded in 1935 to take in the former villages of Alloway and Whitletts. Politically, since 1997 the area south of the Slaphouse Burn has been part of the Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley constituency rather than the Ayr constituency. This also applied in the suburb of Alloway. Boundaries for UK Parliament constituencies were changed again in 2005, and Doonfoot was reunited with Ayr, but the division persisted in the Scottish Parliament. This was unpopular locally, and former Member of Parliament Phil Gallie challenged this in court by way of a judicial review but this was unsuccessful.

In 2008 there were many new houses built in Doonfoot, expanding the population substantially.

It was not until the first periodic review of Scottish parliamentary boundaries prior to the Scottish Parliament general election, 2011 that Doonfoot and Alloway were transferred back to the Ayr constituency along with Forehill, Masonhill and Kincaidston. This now forms part of the current political boundaries of the Ayr constituency which encompasses the electoral wards of Troon, Prestwick, Ayr North, Ayr East and Ayr West. At the same time, the electoral ward of Kyle was transferred from the former Ayr constituency to Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley.

Features

Doonfoot contains a primary school, a play park, and a local convenience shop. There are also plans for a new retirement home and community centre to be built along the Dunure Road sometime in the near future.

Belleisle Park, one of the largest parks in Ayr, borders Doonfoot. It contains two municipal golf courses run by South Ayrshire Council, Seafield and Belleisle. The latter was designed by James Braid and has hosted the Scottish Open and a number of amateur tournaments. It is often cited as one of the best public courses in Scotland, after courses such as St Andrews and Carnoustie. The park also houses a number of animals, including deer and an aviary. There is also a walled garden with a sundial in the middle, and a large glasshouse which contains tropical plants.

Doonfoot is thought to extend westwards from the River Doon to the ruin of Greenan Castle, overlooking the seashore. The island of Arran is clearly visible across the Firth of Clyde from many points throughout Doonfoot. The beach at Doonfoot is popular in summer but, like many beaches along the Ayrshire coast, has failed to meet European Union standards for cleanliness under the Blue Flag scheme. The beach is often populated with a large number of seagulls and weegies.

External links

• Alloway & Doonfoot Community Council
• Doonfoot Primary School
• Belleisle Golf Course
• About Ayr - About Ayr, South Ayrshire Council website information about Ayr
• South Ayrshire Council - South Ayrshire Council's website contains comprehensive information about the services provided by the Council