Saltcoats

This article is about a Town in North Ayrshire

Saltcoats is a small town on the west coast of North Ayrshire, Scotland. The name is derived from the town's earliest industry when salt was harvested from the sea water, carried out in small cottages along the shore. It is part of the "Greater Ardrossan" or "Three Towns" conurbation along with Ardrossan and Stevenston.

Transport

The harbour was designed by James Jardine in 1811.

Saltcoats is served by regular bus and train services. Primary bus services are provided by Stagecoach West Scotland, while rail services are operated by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

Although Saltcoats currently only has a Saltcoats railway station, the town was once served by a Saltcoats North railway station to the north of the town, originally as part of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway. This station closed to regular services on 4 July 1932, and there is no trace of the station today bar a nearby bridge.

Government and politics

Saltcoats is in the Ayrshire North and Arran constituency in the British House of Commons and Cunninghame North in the Scottish Parliament. The Parliament of the United Kingdom seat is held by the Labour Party, and the Scottish Parliament seat was gained by the Scottish National Party from Labour in the May 2007 election by a mere 48 votes.

Notable residents

• Alexander Allan, founder of the Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers
• Andrew Allan of the Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers
• Sir Hugh Allan, of the Allan Line Royal Mail Steamers
• Kenneth Campbell, recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Steve Clarke, professional footballer
• Janice Galloway, author
• Colin Hay, musician, singer-songwriter
• Bobby Lennox, professional footballer
• Hugh McMahon, professional footballer
• Graeme Obree, cyclist
• George Munro, playwright
• Hugh Munro, author