Supporters have rallied round Zoe MacLean's plea for a new Fairlie shorepath, although objectors are continuing to voice opposition.

Proposals for a multi-users shorefront path have been robustly debated at various public meetings during recent months, after the consultation period was recently extended.

In a letter to the Largs and Millport News last week, Zoe said: "I have never been able to fully access the length of the village either on the pavement walking through the village or via the current coastal path. I cannot get any further than this point, photographed, due to the uneven surface and hazardous conditions along the rest of the path. I wholeheartedly welcome the proposal to develop a new more accessible alternative.

"I would like to invite anyone who has any objection to borrow my wheelchair and make their way along the village either on the pavements or via the current shore path. I wander having done this if they would have a change of heart?"

Responding on the Largs News Facebook page, Jacqui Hill said: "I was brought up in Fairlie and although I don't live there now I visit a lot. I'd love to walk from the mound to the Mudhook with my buggy, and my six year old on her bike. I just don't understand the objections. Good luck!"

Mum Claire Donaldson said: "I completely agree I have two young children and it would be lovely to walk the length of the Fairlie beach. I listened to everyone's objections at a recent meeting in Fairlie and was utterly bewildered at people's objections. Keen cyclists will not use a public path. You can walk from Aubery in Largs to the bowling alley in Fairlie without the 'fear' of being ran down my a child on a bike or even worse a family enjoying a bike ride together!"

Lindsay Teale said: "I'm in favour of the path in theory and can absolutely see why Zoe and others can't understand the objections. And it's so sad to think Zoe can't access parts of her village with Remus, her dog. However, the environmental reality is such that the path will be completely submerged twice a day at high tide this will then leave debris of stones and seaweed and who will remove these hazards daily?

"One of the options was to have a path and rocks to the side which I feel would be a doggy and kiddie hazard. Hopefully if the path goes ahead then the stepped path proposal will be the successful option."

Claire Paterson-Caddell said: "Zoe, you deserve to be appreciating the beach along with able bodied people who are able to walk along it."

Paul Hepburn said: "The path proposed is a minimum of two metres wide and at a height that will ruin the beach. The path would be built for the UK cycle network, not just for the village, making it dangerous for users as well."

Jane Nollie said: "It is not that people object to a path. The proposed path is completely inappropriate for the area. I see comments here from people who don't live in Fairlie and realise you can't really appreciate what a loss it will be to not have the sandy areas of the beach, the rock pools full of sea creatures and much more."