The Save the Gretas campaign has launched a broadside against the latest plans presented regarding the controversial forestry for the back hills of Largs.
They say that the new plan still shows significant planting on the hilltops and hill face behind Largs, along the Gogo Valley, in the Greta valley above the core path, in the Wild Land and on the Local Nature Conservation Site which extends along the Gogo and Greta valleys.
The Forestry Commission requires a minimum of 5% broadleaf in a design, yet this scheme is currently at least 16% broadleaf, mostly immediately behind Largs. This would suggest that the planting immediately behind the town could be reduced, save the applicant money and help alleviate local concerns, campaigners say.
In 2012/13 Halkshill and Blair Park farms were purchased with the intention of developing one of the largest commercial forests in the south of Scotland.
In summer 2016 the applicant, Stakis Forestry LLP, applied to Forestry Commission Scotland(FCS), the controlling body, for consent to develop a 6 square kilometre forest stretching from behind Largs to Mills Dairy on the Kilbirnie Road. 
Last Thursday,, Largs Community Council organised a meeting to discuss current status of the proposals with the applicant and Forestry Commission Scotland. Local members from Scottish Wildlife Trust, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, Clyde Muirshiel Consultative Forum, Fairlie Community Council, Save the Gretas, Save Your Regional Park, Largs Community Council, met, along with concerned local residents and North Ayrshire councillor Ian Murdoch.
The applicant has lodged an addendum to the 2016 Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) with The Forestry Commission.
This includes removal of new planting in the West Greta valley between the new bridge and the meeting of the waters, removal of one sitka block above Largs and four sitka blocks below the core path but replacing them with broadleaf and pine.
Campaigner Iain Dippie said: “From the outset, the Save the Gretas campaign has declared that we are not at all opposed to the project happening, only about various aspects that will impinge heavily onto our town and local environment. We remain concerned that as currently designed, it will very significantly change the Largs backdrop, open access to hills, local beauty spots and recreational areas - in particular the much loved Gretas and the Gogo valley.
“At the public meeting Save the Gretas made the point that our surrounding landscape, with its steep valleys, rocky crags, and rolling, changing hills is a very much loved resource. We are extremely lucky to have it – in many ways, this is our Glencoe.”