A Largs community councillor has called on money to be spent on electronic parking signage to be used instead to launch a pioneering friendly and helpful ‘human face’ approach to the parking problem.

Councillor Ian Murdoch told a meeting of the council that having a friendly face who could actively give advice to motorists arriving in the town would be more useful than the planned signage - and argued that it was the type of project that Explore Largs could take forward. Mr Murdoch, who is chair of Largs Events group, said: “If there are still spaces in the town - people just need to be pointed in the right direction. Instead of pushing people away or punishing them, we should be helping.

“Having a team of parking marshals in the town centre and in areas where there is parking, each in contact with one another via radio, would not only help sort out the problem of parking by directing drivers to alternative car parking, it would be a real unique opportunity to boost tourism.

“Imagine someone coming down to Largs and being helped by a friendly marshal. They would go home, tell people how good it is in Largs and encourage others to come along.

“It would not simply be about parking - the marshals could promote the town’s tourism and let visitors know what there is to do.” North Ayrshire Councillor Tom Marshall replied that the council was going to determine whether the signage was useful, adding that if it didn’t work alternatives would be looked at.

Cllr Murdoch made his comments while the council were discussing the confusion surrounding the use of loading bays. Sergeant Alex Marshall, of Police Scotland, had been asked to clarify the situation, following complaints from community councillors that the position was unfair and confusing as there were opposing claims of zero tolerance to people misusing the bays, where others said they could use the bays.

Sgt Marshall stated that her view was that no-one could park in loading bays and had 10 minutes to carry out loading, but would investigate with her traffic colleagues.