The next step in ambitious moves to promote Largs as one of Scotland’s top destinations will take place early next month.

A new website and branding, which aims to give local businesses a boost by bringing in extra custom, will be launched at a meeting in the Brisbane House Hotel on Monday November 4 at 6.30pm.

Local businesses The meeting is being called by Largs Business Improvement District (BID) which aims to give local businesses a say in the future development of the town.

The meeting will also give business owners an update on what can be achieved under BID.

Toni Dawson, vice chair and a director of the Largs BID, said: “We wanted a website that will drive business to the town, something that highlights all there is to do while people are here. It has to embrace all businesses from hairdressers to hotels and everything in between.

“The website also has to be a tool for the BID member businesses in town, where they can access important information.” After a lengthy appointment process, El Studio of Largs were appointed to create the website and work on rebranding material that can be used for a whole host of material, from maps and signs to literature and advertising.

The BID system raises money by levying businesses within the area on a proportion of their non-domestic rateable value. That money is then reinvested in the town.

However, some shop keepers protested that the BID levy was compulsory, even if they had not voted to support it, but their challenge was thrown out by the Scottish Government.

Largs Matters Chairman Willie Wood, speaking in the BID office at the new Largs Business Centre, told the ‘News’ that events such as the Largs Live music festival was a fantastic tool for maximising publicity for the town, and it showed that Largs was about “more than having a pint and chips”.

He said: “BID is not here to take over what people are already doing but to supply an infrastructure that offers support, advice and publicity. We’re about survival — and unless we work together we will go the same way as many other towns have done. There are 42 BIDS currently established, or in the process of being established in Scotland, all promoting their local areas. Here in Largs we must actively go out to tell people that Largs is a great place in which to work and live. We cannot afford to do nothing.” At the meeting on November 4 local business people will be able to meet the newly appointed town manager John Hamilton.