A Fairlie campaigner belives the public are unable to hold developers to account due to the council’s policy to remove planning applications offline after three months.

It used to be the case that planning applications were availabe in paper format, and sent to community councils, but they have now moved online.

However, three months after being granted, the application files are deleted, and only the brief detail about the applications appear.

Mr Telford is hoping to enlist the support of MSP Kenneth Gibson in his bid for either applications to be made fully available after granting, or for paper copies of the applications to be sent out once more to community councils in the area.

He said: “From the community council’s point of view this situation is simply not acceptable.

“In the past a hard copy of planning documents pertaining to Fairlie was provided to us as statutory consultees. When NAC decided to introduce an electronic planning register we were told that this would be beneficial to all. That can hardly be the case when, a few months after consent, all of the critical plans, correspondence, conditions etc are removed from the web site!

“This is particularly unacceptable where a development is still live - where work either hasn’t commenced or has not yet concluded. Apparently we have to travel to Irvine, at our own time and expense, and request sight of the hard copy if we want to check a planning condition? From our point of view NAC need to either return to providing us with hard copies of planning applications and papers or maintain the documentation permanently on the electronic register. NAC cannot have their cake and eat it as they seem to want!” A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “Details of planning applications remain published for three months after the decision has been made. These documents are published in accordance with guidance set out by the Information Commissioner and are published in order to help shape the formal application process. They are not intended to form an archive of planning files. Information relating to previous applications that are not currently published on the website can be requested from the council’s planning team free of charge.”