The future plans for Douglas Park will be put forward at a ‘public engagement’ event on Friday September 22.
The event is taking place at Douglas Park bowling club pavilion between 4-7.30pm, and will be hosted by North Ayrshire Council and the Organic Growers of Fairlie, and Largs Organic Gardens.
We recently reported that Largs and Fairlie growers are currently at an advanced stage of the community asset transfer, but concerns have been raised about whether the shelter is to play a part in the future of the transfer or not.
A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “Fairlie Growers have made a request for a Community Asset Transfer for part of Douglas Park.
“However, having looked at the condition of the shelter and potential costs of repair, Fairlie Growers did not wish to include the shelter in the asset transfer. They were accordingly content that it should be demolished.
“Once demolished, the group would look to include the land on which the shelter stood in their asset transfer request.
“As previously stated, we are proposing the demolition of the building to remove the risk of further deterioration and assist in combatting the issue of anti-social behaviour.
“As the shelter is a Common Good asset, we are taking the necessary steps to ensure its demolition, while adhering to the legal requirements.
“We are currently preparing a report on the proposal, which will be considered by our Cabinet in the near future
“In the meantime, we are arranging a community drop-in event to allow local residents an opportunity to get up-to-date information on both the shelter and the Fairlie Growers’ vision for the park”
At the 50th anniversary of the burgh in 1927 , special caskets were handed to Mr Charles John Cathcart Douglas was handed over land at Haylie for Douglas Park in Largs, giving the upper lands in 1906, before donating the lower lands in the 1920 to allow for new bowling and tennis courts. Mr Douglas accepted the casket just weeks before his death.
The Largs and Millport Weekly News of the period reported that Mr Douglas had handed over the upper lands of Haylie as a gift to the Town Council for the benefit of the residents and the visitors to Largs, and this was followed after the war, by a gift of the more valuable lower lands, as an expression of thanksgiving for the preservation of his son in the perils of the Great War.