MOVING Largs Library to the Vikingar! would be a bodyblow for elderly residents, a local councillor claimed this week.

Conservative Tom Marshall has hit out at the proposal, one of a number of options being looked at in the North Ayrshire Council consultation into public buildings.

He believes the library's current Allanpark Street home is in a more central position for residents - and says OAPs would struggle to travel to the suggested new home.

He says: "It is next to the Largs local bus route just now.

"The proposal to take the library further out of the town centre is a bad idea. It would also be downsized.

"My view is that KA Leisure should be using the previous shop area at the Vikingar as a shop to generate revenue as they do in other tourism centres."

There have been suggestions that the current library could be turned into a community centre, but Cllr. Marshall is against this idea.

He says: "I don't think there is a need for another public hall in Largs.

"There are various public halls including the Parish Church and the Episcopal Church and all are available for use, often for free to charitable organisations."

The library moved from the Brisbane Centre to its current premises in 1981, and has a community room and car park.

However, council cuts in recent years have seen the opening hours slashed.

The library received 80,691 visitors and 12,609 computer bookings while the community room is also described by the council as 'heavily used'.

The council have also given assurances to the public than any 'downsizing' of the library would not lead to any job losses.

The asset value of the library given in 2013 was £633,000 and it currently covers a space of 422.9 square metres.

Councillors Alan Hill and Ian Murdoch are supporting the plan to transfer the reading resource to the Vikingar!

Cllr. Murdoch said: "If the library was to move to the Vikingar, it is at least moving to another building already heated and powered - and owned by the council.

"One of my big concerns is if the decision was to move to Vikingar that we don't lose the building in Allanpark Street. I would love to see a community asset transfer to turn it into a community centre."

At the last consultation, Cllr. Hill said: "The consultation will look at delivering a better and more efficient library service.

"There will be an element of saving money and making efficiencies in the budget going forward and there is the possibility of the community asset transfer of the current building."