Two community councillors have expressed disapproval over a new widened path on Fairlie seafront.

Their comments were made during a recent meeting which heard concerns about the ‘natural beauty’ of the coastline being concreted over.

A second consultation on the widened path, to accommodate bikes, wheelchair users, and prams, has been delayed since last November.

After various concerns were raised about the new beach path proposal from residents, North Ayrshire Council decided to push ahead with the Hunterston cycle path widening, which was supposed to be the second stage, instead.

In effect, the beach path plan has now become the second stage.

The matter was discussed during July’s community council meeting at the Semple Centre.

However, community councillor Joan Downie said: “I think putting a whole pile of concrete on the seafront on a beautiful stretch of coastline for the benefit of a few cyclists is too much. I understand that it would also be for wheelchair users as well, but I would have concerns about how the path would be maintained in future. I just think there are other places it could go. It is completely unnecessary.” Rita Holmes said she believed the pathway consultation had been delayed due to concerns raised by residents at Ferry Row, and other areas along the pathway.

One member of the public said it might attract speeding cyclists. However, a cyclist in the audience said he believed it would encourage families.

Acting chairman David Telford did point out that the reason behind the path was to try to take cyclists and pedestrians off the busy main road stretch through the village.

Concerns were also raised about a broken bench in a popular stretch of the coastline between Bay Street and Ferry Row.

The new widened path at Hunterston, which opened in May, includes lights in the darkened overgrowth areas which switch on when cyclists and pedestrians pass by as it gets dark.

Funding applications were submitted to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Sustrans to secure resources for the overall project. £200,000 has been secured from SPT and £200,000 has been secured from Sustrans for the project in 2014/15, with further allocations of £180,000 from SPT and £225,000 from Sustrans in 2015/16.

A NAC spokesman said: “The consultation will be undertaken in August and September to avoid the main periods of holidays. This will ensure that all interested parties have the opportunity to participate in the consultation process. The dates for the consultation will be provided as soon as these are available.

“The grants are still valid with the 2014/15 allocation having been utilised to undertake the upgrade of the NCN Route 757 to Hunterston. This formed part of the overall Fairlie Community Links project for which this funding package was secured. The funding available in 2015/16 requires to be utilised by 31 March 2016 and it is envisaged that this timescale can be achieved at present.”