AN election candidate wants the public to attend local council meetings.

Mr Tom Marshall who is the sole Conservative candidate for the north coast and Cumbraes wants to hark back to the days of ratepayers meetings in local towns.

In a letter to the 'News' this week he stated: "In our seemingly remote corner of North Ayrshire Council it is time that decisions in this area are made local through a new and more powerful Area Committee and that a sum of money is reallocated to it to make it a success.

"To bring back the spirit of the old ratepayers meetings that were once held in Barrfields such decision making meetings should be publicised and be open to the public unlike at present where they are held seemingly in secret behind security doors at Brooksby."

The powers that be at Cunninghame House should remember that Millport and Skelmorlie are almost 25 miles (and a ferry journey) away and even in this electronic age (and many do not use computers) this is 25 miles too far."

Full statement in the Largs & Millport Weekly News of April 25.