AYR RAGE

CONSERVATIVE COUNCIL CLOSE TO COLLAPSE

- BY JOHN FERGUSON

SOUTH Ayrshire Council's Tory administration is close to collapse after the Sunday Mail revealed leader Martin Dowey appearing to offer to help “pals” win multi-million pound contracts in a recording.

In the tape he calls officers at his local authority "f****** useless", and boasts "All the top ones I can sack". He appears to tell a businessman he can help him win work, including a deal to demolish the fire-ravaged Station Hotel in Ayr.

After our story Dowey said he was stepping back from his role “temporarily”. But after a furious council meeting he resigned with immediate effect, while his deputy Bob Pollock was removed from his position on the council.