Harry McEachan previously led members the community to camp on the green grass in front of Nardini's to stop council diggers amid the creation of a car park during a 10-day stand-off in 1991.

More than 30 years on and the issue of car parking in Largs town centre is still rumbling on, but even Harry has amended some of his thinking in the consideration of modern needs.

It follows a recent community council meeting when Robbie Stevenson asked whether anyone was particularly missing the area of grass which has been fenced off in recent months to assist  with the reconstruction of the sea wall. The site is a temporary compound.

He further suggested that this area could be suitable for car parking in a bid to find a long-term solution.

Compound site of sea wall reconstuction... but is anyone actually missing it, and could it be a new car park, asks Robbie Stevenson (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Stevenson said: "The huge great big site compound that is there just now for the reconstruction of the sea wall. Is anybody missing that piece of grass? Is anybody visually complaining?

"There is a great big barrier there. Will that be hardcored at the minute? Just leave it hardcored.

"I know that would be controversial as it is seafront grass."

Strong concerns have been raised by Largs Community Council and others over the lack of long-stay car parking options in the town centre under decriminalised parking enforcement (DPE), which will see traffic wardens employed by NAC taking over the enforcement of illegal parking.

DPE is due to be launched across North Ayrshire in March.

At the recent LCC meeting, Frank Alexander said: "We have a major problem looming - and I fear there will be all hell breaking loose in Largs.

"We will have decriminalised parking operating in Largs town centre within a couple of months. I have been taking a look around the town and we have more cars than can actually park in the town.

"I can see a major problem looming. The council are bringing the staff in to provide the wardens but there is no backfill for longer stay parking."

With the current shortage in parking spaces, even campaigner Harry believes the town may finally need to forego some of its dear green space.

Harry McEachan (Image: Newsquest)

Harry said: "I would say that it is worth looking at. The council should assess it and see how many cars could park in there and see whether it is worthwhile.

"It would be one less area for the council having to cut the grass.

"I know certain grassy areas have been suggested over recent years including the section between the War Memorial and the Brisbane Centre.

"Does the town really need two putting greens? I don't know how much money they make, but maybe we only need only one.

"A car park at the putting green at Mackerston might make sense. The kids playground and the skate park is very busy so it perhaps could do with more car parking."

Speaking about his campaign 30 years ago, he added: "I was very proud of the Save Largs Seafront campaign to preserve the area of grass in front of Nardini's - the whole community got involved and were inspired to save that important area of the seafront forever more.

"However it is maybe time to look at other areas of the esplanade such as where the compound currently sits.

"One of the big issues is that the people who live there won't want it, and likewise people won't want it at the other end of town either, who live there."

In relation to the oncoming DPE in Largs town centre, a North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: "Before the parking enforcement scheme is formally introduced, we will have a soft launch which will see dummy tickets issued to highlight instances of illegal parking and raise awareness of what constitutes an offence.

"We are aiming to have the scheme under way in March 2024 and it will be in operation in every part of North Ayrshire."

 “The use of the stretch of grassland for overspill car parking is not something we are currently considering.