A BID to overturn a sudden road closure of a key route to and from the town during the Viking Festival week has succeeded.

The A760 Largs-Kilbirnie road had been earmarked for closure between the Muirhead reservoir and the Camphill reservoir next week.

Carriageway improvements were due to take place from 9am on September 2 until 6pm on September 6.

But Councillor Tom Marshall (Conservative, North Coast) urged North Ayrshire Council to rethink its plans.

 

 

Cllr Tom MarshallCllr Tom Marshall (Image: North Ayrshire Council)

Cllr Marshall has told the News he has now been alerted that the roadworks have cancelled.

He says a new road closure notice is now being drawn up for dates after the Viking Festival is concluded.

Writing to the council's roads department, Cllr Marshall said: "I would have expected that some sense would have prevailed and that you avoided that week. 

"Businesses in the town have had a difficult enough summer without another impediment on visitors travelling to Largs.

"I would appeal that this work is delayed until the following week or later."

Viking Festival chairman Douglas Blair said: "We have been involved in a lot of filling out forms and have meetings with the roads department in advance of the festival taking place.

"If it is shut because of a serious health danger, you can understand that, but not if it is for regular maintenance.

"The council should have a list of events which take place and I'd agree with any councillor who supports the festival and argues against this if it is merely a regular maintenance issue. 

Viking Festival chairman Douglas Blair Viking Festival chairman Douglas Blair (Image: North Ayrshire Council)

"The festival dates have been in the diary for a long time, and they should have known about this in advance to prevent this obstruction from taking place.

"If it is for general maintenance work then it really should be delayed until after the festival is finished."

The News has contacted North Ayrshire Council for comment.