Largs is one step closer to having an extra 240 car, motorcycle and bus parking spaces by the summer.

However, the plan will not create spaces in the town centre but seeks to provide the additional parking at the south side of the town, in a field next to Largs marina, which has been used for events such as circuses in the past.

Largs Community Council approved the plan at their meeting last week, with seven members agreeing the plan, three abstaining from the vote and none objecting.

Largs Matters - BID - revealed the plans last year and say the facility will be up and running for the summer.

The proposal is the first of two phases and features general spaces for almost 230 cars, a further six disabled bays, a motorcycle area and eight bus/coach bays.

Phase two will see capacity for an additional 300 car parking spaces.

Largs Matters director John Corrigan said: “We are looking at using the field that the circus regularly uses. Everyone is positive and in agreement with progressing it in order to have it in operation for the summer of 2015.

“It would be a free park-and-ride facility and it will be well signposted throughout the town, on the Haylie Brae, and coming in and out of Largs. The plan is that it will hopefully absorb a lot of traffic before it gets to Largs.” The planning application doesn’t expand on the details of any follow-up transport into the town. The group have previously discussed approaches such as buses and, where appropriate, boats.

Mr Corrigan, who owns Acre Lettings, said they were still working on the final detail in terms of bussing motorists in and out of Largs, but revealed that there could be a number of different ways of getting into town as well as by coach.

Largs BID team are also looking at providing new car parking facilities within the town centre itself, and these options are currently in the planning stages, but will be revealed at a later date.