Parents have reacted with anger to the removal of Fairlie Pier Road swing park.
When the matter was aired at a North Ayrshire Locality Partnership meeting at the turn of the year, Rita Holmes of Fairlie Community Council voiced strong reservations as it was the only swing park on the west side of the busy main road.
North Ayrshire Council say the swing parks have been selected after a review of playpark provision to save £50,000. There were 106 swing parks in North Ayrshire, but this has been reduced to 84 as a result of the cuts.
The matter was highlighted on social media websites including Largs People. One mum said: “I think it was removed due to not having enough money for the upkeep. Such a shame as had been there for years and was well used.”
Another added: “First public toilets , then flower beds turned over to grass, then swing parks ..... what next ? It’s so sad as these are all amenities that encourage people to get outside and exercise, play, socialise.”
The council said several factors were taken into account during the review, including location, nearby alternatives, usage, condition and whether parks attracted ant-sociall behaviour. 
The council state that the two local swing park areas were removed ‘as the sites are unsafe, have unsuitable equipment or there is a suitable alternative nearby’. 
They added that parks at Keppenburn, Fairlie, and Surrey Glen, will be enhanced. There are now a total of 13 swing parks in the North Coast area including Largs, Skelmorlie, Millport, Fairlie and West Kilbride.
A council spokesman said that Fairlie Pier's playpark had to be removed due to safety issues, while the remaining equipment neared the end of its life.
The swing park at Keppenburn Avenue is being enhanced as a result with new equipment in the forthcoming business year.
The council review found that the Fairlie Pier playpark was not utilised enough, while the playpark at Crauford Avenue in West Kilbride had ground erosion and fencing issues, which were behind the decision to earmark these playparks for closure.
However, Kay Hall of West Kilbride stated that children’s play areas were important safe havens for children in their neighbourhoods.