Largs Community Council (CC) will form their own opinion on the controversial forestry development at a private meeting on Tuesday 2 August.

Chairman Douglas Blair said that there had been a lot of interest shown at Largs Library in viewing the environmental statement by developers Stakis which is now available to view online scotland.forestry.gov.uk/supporting/grants-and-regulations/environmental-impact-assessment/eia-projects/halkshill

Community councillor Jim Perman had suggested that the council form an opinion at last Thursday's meeting - but it was agreed to hold back on making a CC decision, and take advantage of the deadline extension.

Douglas said: "I think we need to hold it back till nearer the deadline. Just today, there were people at the library going through all the documentation, and concerns have been raised about the issue of the historic sites for air crashes. I advised them to please write to the CC.

"Some of the air crash sites have been there for a long time, and it is an area of respect as some people have died up there. Some crash sites have been cleared, but others are still in mud."

Community councillor Ian Murdoch warned: "The development opens up the hillside up to more people than ever before - and not all of them for good reasons."

Douglas said: "We don't have to respond till 14 August, and still awaiting information from RSPB and Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, and once we get that information from different sources, we can digest it and then we can make our mind up."

Ian added: "This is of such vital importance to this town and Largs CC - we need to leave it to nearer the deadline."

Ian said that due to the amount of information in the 700 page document, it was taking a lot of time to digest the information, even for local experts.

Douglas said: "If anyone wishes to put forward any comments, you can leave it for the community council at Largs Library."

Ron Gilchrist, who has been responsible for setting up 40 community gardens in Scotland, expressed interest in the community woodland having a link-up with local schools, and said: "The response has got to be fairly specific. It should be an event on its own getting this response right."

Patricia Perman said: "People can write in individually to the Forestry Commission as well."

Douglas added: "We need the time to consider that information, digest it as a co-operative ourselves and respond accordingly, have a meeting the week before, and then write it up. This would then be the crunch time for us whether we agree or object, or consent with some conditions. We are an official consultee."

The deadline for responses to the Environmental Statement has now been set for 14 August, after being moved back from 19 July following representations by MSP Kenneth Gibson and MP Patricia Gibson.