North Ayrshire Council will proceed with the sale of Moorburn council chambers after the SNP party struck a deal with the Labour group to support the Stevenson Institute as the new community centre for Largs.

However, Councillor Elisabethe Marshall, a vehement opponent of the sale of Moorburn, has said that she has not given up the fight to save the historic council chambers despite the council decision.

At the recent full council meeting at Cunninghame House, Cllr. Marshall attempted to delay the imminent sale of the building on Largs seafront, which houses council offices, and used to host town council meetings.

Speaking to the "News", Mrs Marshall has asked where weddings will now take place and questioned the suitability of the new Brooksby health centre for such a function. Council and NHS services will switch to Brooksby later this year.

During the council meeting, Cllr. Alan Hill stated that he had been to visit the new health centre and said he was pleased with what he had seen. He was pleased to go forward with the sale of Moorburn with the working group looking towards a new community centre in the town, namely the Stevenson Institute.

Mr Hill said: 'I am pleased that the recommendation of a new facility will come to Largs in its place and the SNP agrees that the sale of Moorburn House should proceed.' Council Labour leader David O"Neill stated that he was happy to second Cllr. Hill"s motion but it would require an alteration to the capital budget.

However, Mrs Marshall called for the sale of Moorburn to be put on hold until a community centre was up and running in Largs.

Mrs Marshall said: 'The council will be aware that alternative accommodation for groups currently using Moorburn House is extremely limited within Largs and it is therefore essential that Moorburn House is kept open until the proposed Community Centre is up and running.

'It is also the case that Council services have limited accommodation within Brooksby, which only meets current operational needs. It would be short-sighted to dispose of Moorburn house, which is ideally situated next to Brooksby.' Mrs Marshall"s amendment to put the sale of Moorburn on hold was defeated by 20 votes to 3 as the council agreed to proceed without delay to market Moorburn for sale.

Councillor Hill who has campaigned for the edevelopment of the dilapidated Stevenson Institute in Lade Street said that the decision paved the way for an immediate project to create the town"s first ever proper community centre.