Published: Wednesday, 15th October, 2008 12:30
Largs is not against Millport
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I feel I must reply to last week’s front page article titled “Why is Largs so anti-Millport”?
I do not believe Largs is anti- Millport and I know I certainly am not. In January 2007 I objected through the planning channels to the Pier Project and on 21st February this year I withdrew my objections after gaining assurances from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd that the demolition of the old pier and the building of the new pier would be carried out with minimum disruption to Largs and, in particular, Largs Prom, which is our biggest asset. I also tried to gain guarantees that when completed members of the public would have full access to the pier during daylight hours.
In a letter from Lorna Spencer from CMAL she assured me that while it was not possible to give me a guarantee that the public would not be excluded from the pier, it is not their intention to exclude the public, as they fully agree the pier will continue to be an asset to the community, allowing use by local people carrying out their business or leisure interests.
I have recently raised concerns over the proposal to place Portakabins in the sea front car park in the summer months. I have no problem with them being there in the winter months, but come Easter 2009, in my opinion, they would have to be removed from the car park.
In order to find a solution to this problem, I approached a local business man and asked him if he would lease a piece of ground to the construction company for about 9-10 months, to which he agreed. I then put the two sides in touch with each other and as far as I am aware, a deal looks promising. Therefore, removing the problem from Largs seafront.
The new ferry arrived in Largs around May 2007 and the ferry service and slipway have not been disrupted since and I am assured they will not be disrupted during the pier project. To my knowledge, up to now I have not mentioned the Cumbrae Ferry, slipway, or the people of Millport. My problems are concentrated on the pier project and the disruption it may cause to Largs and the Prom.
I received a letter from CMAL on Saturday 11th October 2008, which states the contractors are due to commence site operations at Largs Pier, week commencing 27th October. The end of October was always the planned start date for the project.
Any views I have expressed are my own personal opinions and not that of Largs Community Council.
Ian Murdoch
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