A CALL has been made for roads bosses to CLOSE the back road between Largs and Greenock - while the main A78 is shut at the same time.

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch has raised strong concerns about the Old Largs Road being used during the coastal road closures which are currently in force over successive weekends.

He says the remote route has been made dangerous - with drivers using it as a diversion seeing their cars ending up in ditches - and he now wants it blocked.

Cllr Murdoch has asked North Ayrshire Council to put a road closure order on the country road for this weekend, saying this drastic step is essential to eliminate the possibility of accidents after a number of problems last weekend.

Mr Murdoch told the News: "The volume of traffic was really heavy on the Brisbane Glen road and folk were being run off the road in some cases, and cars were left sitting in ditches.

"To compound the problem, if something does go wrong, it is difficult go get a phone signal up there in order to get the emergency services out.

"If there are accidents, it is difficult for emergency vehicles to get there."

The local councillor is urging people to avoid the road unless they are residents who need access to the road.

He says everyone else should use the official diversions in place via Kilbirnie and Kilbarchan.

Cllr Murdoch added: "Brisbane Glen Road is not a suitable alternative to the A78, and it is not the diversion that has been provided by Transport Scotland.

"I would ask that people under no circumstances use the old back road unless residents need access, otherwise it is just going to cause more trouble.

"There were reports of some people who were using the road and it was taking them well over an hour and a half to go from one end to the other, which means it was actually taking a longer time than the official diversion.

"And for the ones that were stuck in the mud, it was even longer."

Largs Police today said they have no concerns regarding the back road between Largs and Greenock following last weekend.

Inspector Colin Convery said: "We are not aware of any incidents or problems in Brisbane Glen Road, and have no concerns."

He added that the police were not made aware of the abandoned car, pictured, in a ditch.

The A78 road resurfacing project is upgrading approximately three kilometres of the surface.

Due to the narrow width of the trunk route, closures are necessary.

This weekend will see Skelmorlie South out of action from 8pm on Friday until 6am on Monday.

Maintenance crews will move to Wemyss Bay, the following week, with the road closed from 8pm on Friday April 20 until 6am on Monday April 23.

The northbound diversion route is via A760 Lochwinnoch to A737 to Kilbarchan to A761 Bridge of Weir to A8 Port Glasgow to A78 Largs.

The southbound diversion route is via A78 to Wemyss Bay to A8 Port Glasgow to A761 Bridge of Weir to A761 to A737 Kilbarchan to A760 to Largs.

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