Two derelict eyesores which have lain empty for decades are to be considered as part of ‘priority’ action to address the problem of car parking, North Ayrshire Council has confirmed.

Since work began on the new multi-million pound Dementia Resource Centre in Largs, latterly a temporary car park, the issue of parking has been raised once again. This has been balanced by the council’s removal of some sections of double yellow lines around the town.

However, the use of the seafront car park by the fairground during the Viking Festival again demonstrated the need for North Ayrshire Council to put their recently published town centre parking strategy into motion. The council has now confirmed that the sites in Bath Street and at the former DHSS office at the foot of Seamore Street will be investigated as part of its efforts to improve seasonal parking.

The derelict land off Bath Street, which is primarily used for deliveries to Main Street stores, has been used as an ad hoc car park for decades but has become overgrown.

In the past the council has cited legal complications due to a ‘jigsaw’ of title deeds as an obstacle in addressing the problem - not only in terms of parking, but also the visual impact on the amenity of the town centre.

The new parking strategy indicates that Largs’ designated car parks are generally within capacity where on-street parking is very high, especially the closer they are to the town centre.

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “Within Largs there are opportunities to improve seasonal parking areas to better manage demand, provide park and ride schemes to support key events, develop park and ride facilities at Railway Stations, work with private sector providers to ensure access to all available car parks and review on-street no waiting areas to remove restrictions where they are no longer appropriate.

“The parking strategy covers a five year period, however, the interventions in Largs are an early priority action.

“The parking provision in Lade Street was created as a temporary provision until the new centre was constructed. In general, individual sites for new parking were not considered as part of the strategy. Potential sites such as Bath Street and Seamore Street will be considered as potential options as part of the range of available interventions.

“The town centre parking strategy ensures a consistent approach to parking throughout our towns. No single action carried out in isolation will effectively address the issues identified. To be successful, actions must be delivered in a co-ordinated manner to ensure that value for money, cost effective, benefits are provided.”