WORK on the long awaited new Largs Crematorium could get underway early in the new year, it was announced this week.
Luddon Construction, who are experts in civil engineering works, will oversee work on the facility, which will be built near Kelburn Windfarm on the A760 Largs to Kilbirnie Road.
Hailing the progress, after a number of delays to the £2.5 million project, Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson said: “ Just last Monday I had a constituent who had to wait five days for a service in Irvine, due to the high local demand for crematoria. 
“I am pressing Scottish Water to resolve the mains water issue to ensure the work starts on site in early 2017.”
Jeremy Hamilton, who operates Respect Crematoria, said that the company was developing Scotland’s ‘newest and environmentally advanced crematorium’ which will ‘offer local families from Largs, Cumbrae, Fairlie, Skelmorlie, West Kilbride, Kilbirnie and across the Garnock Valley and Clyde Coast, access to an increasingly needed and essential service within the local area’.
Respect Crematoria has recently received sign-off from a number of the statutory consultees on specific building control and building design matters.
Meetings are also taking place this week between Respect Crematoria and Scottish Water in regards to finding a solution regarding the Scottish Water mains connection. 
The crematorium has been designed to focus on supporting bereaved families and features a 160-seat facility which will incorporate state-of the- art, environmentally advanced technology. Mr Hamilton said that the design is key, given the solemn nature of the proceedings and would be bright and inspiring, while maintaining the outlook of the local environment with a farmstead-style design, finished in local stone and natural wood.
The plans also include a large, open-plan and welcoming internal reception area, with capacity for up to 120-people, a reception area with large and modern WC facilities, full disabled access, as well as comfort and shelter for families and friends.
Extra capacity has also been provided to cope with exceptionally large services, with the ceremony hall connected to the reception area via digital audio and LED screens, on which services can be viewed.
Kenneth Gibson added: “I am delighted that this important development is making progress. Not only will it provide an important facility in a tranquil setting, along with employment for eight people, it takes some of the strain away from existing facilities”