A NOISY manhole cover which has caused sleepless nights for a Largs neighbourhood for weeks has still not been fixed.

The matter was reported more than two weeks ago, and the ongoing saga has been branded 'ridiculous' by fuming councillors.

Locals received assurances that the manhole cover was supposed to be fixed this week during the A78 road closure.

However, the problem is ongoing and no solution has been found, with one local guest house having to refund guests on four occasions.

Exasperated residents in Irvine Road had alerted road maintenance company Amey to the problem.

Vehicles passing over the manhole cover results in a 'clanking' noise which is audible to the surrounding area.

The problem emerged last month following the first phase of roadworks which took place on the A760 which required the stretch of road to be closed.

Due to Storm Ashley, part of the works had to be postponed, and the matter was discussed at the most recent Largs Community Council meeting.

Guest house owner Keith Lowe said: "I am also representing four neighbours and five elderly people from Homemount House regarding the roadworks.

"We realised a manhole cover outside our front door was making a horrendous noise every time traffic goes over it.

"We had correspondence with Amey, Cllr Tom Marshall and Scottish Water have also been involved.

"It is causing us anxiety and sleeping problems, and the tenants at Homemount House are in the process of drawing up a petition.

"Over the last three weeks we have had to refund our guests four times who have demanded they get their money back because they can't sleep at night. 

"We were told that the drain would be looked over during the past week when the road was shut during the three evenings.

"I have reported this again, and now we are being told it is now a Scottish Water matter and it could be a long term problem.

"I am not bothered who fixes it as long as it gets fixed as soon as possible."

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch said: " I was very disappointed when I was at Homemount House and it was crack, crack, cracking, and it was driving me nuts so I have every sympathy with the residents.

"I am absolutely fuming that it has not been done. We were assured that it would be dealt with over the last few nights."

Cllr Murdoch said he would be contacting Amey in relation to the matter.

Conservative Cllr Tom Marshall said: "I had expected that Scottish Water would have been in during the past three nights to do this, it is not really Amey's position to replace the manhole cover.

"What Ian and I can do is to chase Scottish Water and ask for it to be done as soon as possible.

"It might just be that the cover is the wrong way round - it might just be a simple thing as that. We will chase it up on Mr Lowe's behalf."

Community councillor Robbie Stevenson, who regularly tends the community garden at the foot of Gogoside Street, said the noise was very loud and disruptive, and branded it "ridiculous" that the matter had not been resolved after the assurances given.

Robbie StevensonRobbie Stevenson (Image: Newsquest)

Fellow community councillor Jamie Black said he was also disappointed in Amey as assurances had been given that the issue would be resolved over recent days.

Cllr Marshall said that he would be contacting Scottish Water to try and resolve the matter.

A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: “We have received a report of a noisy manhole cover on Irvine Road at its junction of Gogoside Road. We are hoping to have the manhole cover replaced this week. We apologise for any inconvenience.”