Is more needed to clean up our private car park areas in Largs?
This was the subject of debate during a recent Largs Community Council meeting after concerns were raised about the state of the car park in Bath Street.
Secretary Anne Carson asked if anything could be done about the long standing issues concerning the state of the car park which has been reported about in the Largs and Millport News over recent years.
Indeed, seven years ago in 2010, Largs resident Drew Purdon of Lovat Street contacted the ‘News’ to lambast the state of the car park in the town centre, which is close to the seafront, labelling it as an eyesore.
Mr Purdon had said: “It is an absolute disgrace. It is in the centre of a town which is supposed to rely on the tourism trade as a holiday resort. It is an absolute shambles. It is time to clear it up and get rid of it.”
And at the recent Largs Community Council meeting, Anne Carson said: “Is there no way that the holes in the car park can at the very least be filled in?”
Independent councillor Ian Murdoch pointed out that it was a privately owned car park.
Anne asked: “Can the council not compulsory purchase the site and turn it into a car park proper?”
Cllr. Murdoch said: “The situation is that the car park used to be collectively owned by multiple owners, but I believe it is only one owner now who has it.. I know the owner, and shall try to speak to him.”
Anne asked that as a local councillor if Ian could take it further and push for improvements to take place at the car park. She said: “It is definitely an issue, and there are health and safety issues there, and it encourages rats.”
Ian Murdoch added that there were a number of private car parking areas in the town including the car park behind Lounge. He offered to speak to the businessman involved in relation to whether it was possible to provide improvements to the Bath Street car park.