Villagers in Fairlie were amazed after a road sign went up saying that an important access road would be closed for 36 weeks.

Disruption is expected at Bay Street as new amenity housing is being built next to the Main Road junction.

Councillor Alan Hill, who lives in Fairlie, is concerned about the lack of access to the seaside street, which has a large number of houses and the Village Inn bar and restaurant.

The former Kelburn Hotel site is being converted into social housing by Cunninghame Housing Association, and a block of 13 flats is being built at the location. It is a busy area of activity as Dirk Kuyt's company Maritime Craft Services are in the process of building plush new offices alongside the new Kelburn housing amenity unit. And further along the Main Road, the new Fairlie Bowling clubhouse is also under construction.

However, locals were surprised when a road sign at the top of Jetty Road - the road leading between Main Road and Bay Street - indicated it would be closed for a long period.

Cllr. Hill told the 'News' : "I don't quite see how it is going to work out. I have been talking to North Ayrshire Roads Department to see if there is anything that can be done in terms of getting road access. You have all sorts of issues which could arise. Will a bin lorry have to go all the way along Bay Street and then reverse all the way back? And there are also beer deliveries for the Village Inn and Mudhook." North Coast councillor Tom Marshall concurred: "Having some knowledge of the construction methods, I believe it could have been possible for a partial closure over a shorter period of time." During February's Community Council meeting, by coincidence, Bay Street residents said they were going to put out a questionnaire about making the street one way. Due to parking congestion on the street, one resident called for more people to use the church car park at the north end of Bay Street. However, community councillor John Riddell warned that there would be disruption at the Jetty Road south entrance to Bay Street.

A council spokesman said: "Cars will be prohibited on a section of Jetty Road to allow access to services and provide space for scaffolding while contractors work on a new residential and office development in the area. The closure is scheduled until November 17, although hopefully the date can be brought forward if good progress is made. Letters giving details have been sent by the contractors to the residents."