FIVE new routes to the sun have been unveiled by Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Ryanair. The new routes link Glasgow Prestwick to Alicante in Spain, Arrecife on Lanzarote and Las Palmas on Gran Canaria in the Canaries, Palma in Majorca and the island of Ibiza. Winter sun routes start from October. raeme Sweenie, the Chief Commercial Officer of Infratil Airports, who operate Glasgow Prestwick, said: “Launching five new routes is fantastic news for the Airport and passengers alike. Destinations in Spain and the Canaries are always enormously popular in winter and summer. With Ryanair’s proven track record of low fares and excellent on-time performance we would expect these new routes to be amongst the most popular from the airport. “These new services are particularly pleasing at a time when the aviation industry generally is having a tough time. We know that people want low prices and flights that run ontime. Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Ryanair combine to provide fares and on-time performance at a price unrivalled in the Scottish market”.

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EAST Ayrshire Council has developed a Tourism Strategy and Action Plan which outlines a strategic ambition to grow the tourism industry and sets out a vision of the way ahead for tourism in East Ayrshire over the next six years. The key principle of the strategy is to develop the contribution of the tourism sector to the local economy by supporting the development of tourism businesses and developing linkages between tourism businesses in the private sector and attractions and facilities operated by the public sector. The tourism industry is already extremely important to the economy of East Ayrshire, generating around £56 million per year in tourism revenue and there is considerable potential to grow this contribution further. East Ayrshire has a rich and fascinating history and heritage, connections to famous Scots, a range of visitor attractions and areas of outstanding natural beauty which provide opportunities for a range of outdoor activities and recreation.

In addition to these fantastic assets, East Ayrshire benefits from close proximity to highly populated areas of Scotland and is easily accessible from a range of UK and overseas markets via good transport links including Glasgow Prestwick and Glasgow International Airports. The past couple of years have seen the area grow its profile as a destination for day visitors and holiday makers by developing a strong cultural offer in arts and museums, investing in infrastructure such as the purpose built genealogy facility at the Burns Monument Centre in Kilmarnock, increasing access to the countryside by creating new path networks, and revitalising town centres through exciting regeneration projects. The commitment of East Ayrshire Council to grow tourism has been matched by exciting new projects such as Braehead Foods Cook School in Kilmarnock, and the development of Dumfries House and Estate near Cumnock, which will host a special performance of the world famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August 2009.

It is clear that East Ayrshire’s rich and fascinating past is now being matched by a shared ambition for an exciting future, building on what has already been achieved and capitalising on emerging opportunities, to develop the area as an outstanding tourism destination.

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MEETING Scotland’s climate change energy targets is the job of one of Europe’s largest wind energy companies, Vattenfall, which has quickly established itself as a significant player in the UK’s growing wind energy sector. Following acquisitions of three established companies within the UK wind power industry, as well as the purchase of the Thanet Offshore Wind Project off the English coast, the Swedish-based firm is at the forefront of this increasingly important market as it seeks to help Scotland and the rest of the UK meet its ambitious climate change targets. The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Bill, which recently became law, introduces targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050. Furthermore, the Scottish Government’s Renewables Action Plan seeks to ensure at least a fifth of Scotland’s energy comes from renewables by 2020. Vattenfall currently produces enough electricity from wind power in Europe to meet the equivalent needs of around 300,000 households per year.

Their ambition is to increase wind power production so that they can meet the needs of 10 million households across Europe by 2030. The UK will be responsible for approximately one third of this. “It’s a tough challenge that we’ve accepted, but we will succeed in achieving our goal,” says Anders Dahl, Head of Vattenfall Wind Power. At the heart of Vattenfall’s ethos is local engagement and this is what the company’s recent “Fresh Start” campaign was all about - building strong and lasting relationships with the communities around its wind farm developments. The Fresh Start campaign, aimed at local residents and businesses, has introduced them to the company and gave them the opportunity to shape the developments in their communities. These have been enormously successful over the past few months allowing Vattenfall to reach, engage and hear the views of hundreds of people.

Vattenfall’s commitment to Scotland has also been cemented by the recent opening of its headquarters in Edinburgh as the company takes forward its partnership with ScottishPower Renewables on its joint bids for offshore wind farm development in the UK. More information on Vattenfall and its UK projects can be found at www.vattenfall.co.uk.

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SCOTTISH property firm Stewart Milne Homes has introduced a brand new ‘Growing Families’ product, designed to create homes that meet the ever-changing needs of the modern family. Based on the outcomes of in-depth market research and a series of focus groups, this newly-developed property specification offers every size and stage of family a home with the key features and facilities required to accommodate a modern lifestyle with ease.

Each home comprises the essential elements of bright spacious living areas with a family eat-in kitchen providing the heart of the home, and a newly created private and secure landscaped garden. Each kitchen is fitted with the latest in convenient appliances and includes an extra volume washing machine and tumble dryer designed to manage frequent larger loads.

The new product also offers a range of specially designed living solutions, included within the purchase, to tailor each home to the needs of its family. New and young families can benefit from home safety installations including stair gate and door guards for the wee ones; larger families with school-age children can enjoy such extras as an outdoor play area; whilst those with older children will have their home complete with patio area and brick-built BBQ for family entertaining. Stewart Milne Homes’ Growing Families is available with a range of properties at developments across Scotland, including Cherrytrees in Cumnock, Ayrshire, convenient for Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Nestled in a charming rural location, with easy access to Glasgow city centre, Cherrytrees presents an exclusive collection of four and five-bed detached family homes.

Prices start from £265,000 for a Thorntonhall fivebed detached home. For further information contact the showhomes and marketing suite on 01290 420922, open Thursday to Monday from 10.30am until 5.30pm. Alternatively, visit www.stewartmilnehomes.com

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PLANESPOTTERS at Glasgow Prestwick had a real treat when the new Airbus A380 - the world’s biggest commercial airliner - paid a “flying” visit to Ayrshire. The aircraft performed a spectacular fly past over the airport watched by hundreds of airport enthusiasts and locals who gathered at various vantage points to catch a glimpse of it soaring over the airport. The visit to Glasgow Prestwick Airport by the massive 525-seat, double-deck, wide-body, four-engine superjumbo was part of a spectacular overfly of British airports and production factories, and part of the aircraft’s first appearance over the skies of Scotland.

The A380 performed two approach-and-go manoeuvres in which the aircraft came in as if landing, but then departed before touching down. Mark Rodwell, Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow Prestwick Airport commented: “Glasgow Prestwick Airport is delighted and very proud to welcome the world’s largest commercial airliner to our airport. Members of the public, airport enthusiasts and airport staff alike all shared in their excitement at the opportunity to catch a glimpse of such an impressive aircraft from their local airport.”

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