PROPOSALS for a new marina railway station in Largs have received a mixed reaction.

As revealed in the News last week, the Scottish Government is exploring a proposal at Largs Yacht Haven which would provide a tourism boost and ease parking problems.

The move has been backed by MSP Kenneth Gibson, Largs Yacht Haven and Kelburn Country Centre, who have all enthusiastically welcomed the plan.

Largs businessman John Corrigan, who has been campaigning for a car park to be built at Barrfields Putting Green, was not supportive however.

He said: "I think the railway station idea is a waste of time. You will still have the problem of thousands of cars waiting to get into Largs on a nice day. People from Greenock and Inverclyde are not going to jump on a train when it is only a 20 minute car journey down the road.

"It will bring some benefits to the likes of the marina and Kelburn, but I still say the best and cheapest option is to build a car park for hundreds of cars at Barrfields. It will take years for a station platform at Largs marina to materialise, and the last time it was suggested, it was felt that it would upset the journey times between Largs and Glasgow.

"It won't resolve the long queue of cars going beyond the dump on Haylie Brae on a summer's day.

"By the time we get a train station at Largs marina we will be using electric cars and hoverboards. We need a solution now."

Conservative councillor Tom Marshall also questioned the proposals.

He said: "I think there are a lot of questions to be answered. It would cost in the region of £15m and stations like this are usually built where there is a substantial population. It sounds a great idea but I don't think it is value for money."

Independent Cllr Ian Murdoch said: "I think it would tie up well with park and ride opportunity and it would be vitally important to have Scotland's premier marina linked to the town centre.

"We need to think big.

"Coronavirus is not going to be here forever and we need to look at different ideas to bolster the economy."

Labour councillor Alex Gallagher said: "I think any development that brings more people to the town and makes it more accessible is a good thing.

"I think it could be very useful indeed to have a park and ride facility so that people don't come straight into the town and can park their cars. I would certainly support the proposal."

The idea was first floated almost 20 years ago but was dismissed as too costly at the time.

There is an ongoing process to identify future transport investment, that is the second Strategic Transport Projects Review.

During the option process, an option for a new station at Largs Marina has been proposed.

This will now be subject to consideration and appraisal, along with other options for the Ayrshire and Arran region.