A COUNCILLOR is asking for help to tackle the problem of what he believes to be ‘seasonal begging’.

Cllr Derek McCabe said he saw three woman, aged 20, 40 and 60 begging on Ayr High Street, two weeks before Christmas, before they got on the X77 bus.

He fears there are many woman being ‘exploited’ by an unknown group who are telling them to travel to South Ayrshire to beg and make money. 

Cllr McCabe said: “This is a scam which is organised. 
“What I am asking is for the local authority to have a consultation on the issue. I am not saying I want beggars off the street.

“It is wrong for woman to be exploited like this to make money. I believe there is an organisation sending them to our towns to make money. 

“But I don’t know who is organising it. I feel that officials need to be more willing to investigate this issue and to stop turning a blind eye because this has been happening in Ayr and Troon for the past few years.

“I have spotted a pattern as they always seem to come at Easter, Summer and Christmas when the town is busier. They stay for about two or three weeks before moving somewhere else.

“The ages range from teenagers to women in their 60s. 

“This organisation know people feel sorry for women begging on the street.

“Some of them use the X77 to travel to Ayr, others are dropped off on a mini bus. There are various ways for them to get to Ayr.

“A couple of weeks before Christmas I saw three women from Eastern Europe, aged 20, 40 and 60 meeting up after a days begging at the bus station.

“They all had mats and the oldest one had a phone and shopping. I don’t care if they are from Eastern Europe or East Dumbarton, the principle of what they are doing is wrong. 

“This seems to be a conversation people don’t want to have. My party members in my constituency support my questions. It is a problem which affects the town centre. 

“This is under the umbrella of anti-social behaviour. They know the good spots to go to. It is not going to improve no matter how many new buildings you create. 

“When I was canvassing last year many of my constituents raised the same concerns. This was one of the main issues which was discussed.

“They want the council to deal with this contentious problem and ‘ne’eer forget the people’.”