The Largs Initiative business traders have been in talks with the highways authority and North Ayrshire Council over various local improvements but have bemoaned the lack of Nardini"s cafe.

Initiative chairman Marlyn Green said that it has been a poor summer for businesses but there was a welcome boost when the Viking Festival took place.

Mrs Green said: 'I think Nardini"s has been closed for so long now that it doesn"t make much difference to trade. People are not coming down to Largs now because they know Nardinis is closed. If they can get it back open, it will bring back a lot of nostalgia back, and bring more to the town.' The Initiative group which meets up on a monthly basis have also been in talks with North Ayrshire Council regarding the seagull problem which hit Largs in the summer with gulls grabbing food from youngsters" hands on the local prom, sparking a flood of letters to the Largs "News".

Mrs Green said that talks were underway concerning erecting noticeboards warning the public not to feed the birds to try and prevent future problems.

In terms of other seafront businesses, Mrs Green said: 'Subway has arrived. It is good because any new business which comes to the local area means that it is one less shop which is not empty. Tobys and Cafe Amici"s are closed at the moment on the seafront. I believe that they are talking about a tapas bar for Papa Joe"s and the new owners have gutted the premises.' The Initiative will be running the ever popular late night shopping Yuletide event which takes place earlier than usual this year on Thursday November 29 so as not to clash with other local events in the busy Christmas build-up. Mrs Green said it was her understanding that the yuletide fairground will not go ahead as the car park next to Mackays, where it has been based, is now a pay and display car park. The Initiative have also been in talks with Amey Highways, who control the main trunk road through the centre on behalf of the Scottish Executive, regarding drop down pavements for the disabled nearby the railway station and the removal of obsolete road signage throughout the town.