The asphalt surface selected for Largs Prom will be ‘far more robust’ than the previous promenade surface in Largs, North Ayrshire Council have stated, following a backlash from local residents on social media.
We reported last week that councillors have called for calm after an online uproar against the new Largs Prom surface as it has been laid down during the past week.
Over 150 people took to social media pages to voice strong concerns about whether the prom will hold out during winter storms,
Some labelled the new prom as a ‘waste of money’ and called for it to be re-laid with another kind of surface. The long awaited prom improvements were called upon following a community consultation last March towards the ‘Largs Masterplan’, with works on Gallowgate Square being made into a market place in the new year.
Independent councillor Ian Murdoch was the first councillor to see the work beginning. He said: “As soon as the work started, I contacted the council roads department had a meeting with me on the prom to discuss size of chips used.
“We have been assured that the surface will have longevity. 
"I do very much understand most of the comments and peoples' alarm over the concerns over the job but I had the very same concerns at the start, before they laid the tar, and I was on the phone looking for assurances. 
"I can assure everyone that going back to the beginning of October I have been sending emails asking that this new surface had to have longevity."
“Any areas that are necessary to be corrected will be corrected, and the area around the public toilets has yet to be tarred, the steps have to be lifted, along with the areas around the shelters, access road at the Moorburn shelter, so at this moment in time for the job to be completed and hopefully it will all settled down.
“I have been assured that these chips will not come out the asphalt as it is a good quality asphalt that has been used.”
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The works to repair the surface of the prom were commissioned following clear feedback from the Largs community that this was a priority.
“The new asphalt surface, embedded with red chippings, is also supported with an additional layer below the surface meaning there is now a finish depth of 100-120mm.
“This is far more robust than the bituminous surface it replaced and we are confident this will withstand severe weather."