A Fairlie referendum to decide once and for all whether there should be a new shorefront path in the village has been suggested.

Community council chairman Steven Graham came up with the idea following another heated debate on the pros and cons of the multi-users path during their monthly meeting at the Semple Centre. The joint project involves both North Ayrshire Council and access charity Sustrans, and would provide access for prams, wheelchairs, pedestrians and bikes, taking them off the busy main road.

A range of views were expressed at the meeting both for and against the proposals, with critics claiming that the recent plans presented to the public at a Village Hall consultation were 'ambiguous'.

However, Cllr. Alan Hill said: "There is no fixed time when a decision is to be made, but there will come a time reasonably soon when a decision will have to be be made about whether the money is going to be spent or not. Part of the problem is that every time a question is answered, it generates another series of questions, and I am not sure we will ever get to a point where people will say they are completely satisfied."

Community councillor Karla Turley stated that some of the questions were raised by herself because of the ambiguity, and the photo montages and designs were criticised for not showing the full impact of the shore path.

Cllr. Hill stated that the consultation had been extended, and that the photo montages were only an indication of the overall look, and didn't take account of the changing seascape.

Conservative councillor Tom Marshall stated that there should have been a sectional view so the height of the coastal path in relation to other buildings, should have been presented during the recent consultation, which has been extended.

Community councillor Rita Holmes said: "I do not understand why we would be spending money upgrading paths that are quite suitable at the moment for wheelchairs, prams and pushchairs - I am not saying the whole of the coastal path - but why are we not spending the money on doing the other areas sensitively which need it?"

However, one resident said she had great difficulties getting her pram along the seafront, citing puddles on the main road drenching pedestrians, and access difficulties getting past wheelie bins, and narrow pavements.