Providing heritage and cultural trails, as well as watersports facilities, were among key suggestions made at a recent consultation into the future of Largs Prom.

Largs residents received the chance to give their views on the best way to revitalise the town’s promenade and the town centre.

The ideas gathered from the drop-in sessions at St Columba’s Parish Church will form part of a design ‘masterplan’ which will be used as the blueprint for the future. Once a final masterplan is designed, funding can be sought.

Tomasz Stasikowski, landscape architect for international consultants TGP said: “There are a lot of opportunities in Largs because of the layout of the prom as it has good character, and a good layout and a lot of space.

We don’t want to change the general layout of the promenade, we want to keep it as it is but it requires an upgrade with furniture, shelters and general improvements.

“This could include external sport equipment, and possible storage shelters such as huts for kayaking, and other watersports, cycle facilities, seating areas, heritage trails and maybe art or poetry trails - that is the initial plan.

Tomasz, who is originally from Poland, said: “We are working from Aubery Park to almost the Pencil, and including the Main Street, railway station up to the ferry terminal.

“There is not a lot of people who say that we don’t like this or that as we have not actually designed anything yet - it was all about receiving various different ideas from the public.

We have got a lot of ideas from the councillors, and added our expertise and appraisal of the promenade, and present these ideas to the community and get feedback.” Labour councillor Alex Gallagher, who has been a strong advocate for improvements to Largs Prom, said: “It was all very provisional but I think it is important that the prom is done up - I was happy to see the outline which was very good but the devil will be in the detail. I was at Newcastle County Down in Northern Ireland a few years ago, and it is beautiful - it is very similar to Largs Prom and shows what is possible in terms of landscaping and lighting.” Cllr. Gallagher, who chairs the North Coast councillors committee which pushed for the masterplan, said: “The big issue once we get the final outline is accessing the money to go and make these improvements.” Toni Dawson, assistant manager of Largs Explore business group, said: “I’d like to see a link up with the north and south end of the prom; there needs to be a cultural input which perhaps tells the history of Largs which will be interesting to the younger generation, and to attract visitors to the town. The overspill will be beneficial to Largs businesses, and the community at large.

“Personally I’d like to see the prom really tidied up so it is much more appealing with nice soft landscaping with historical points of interest. There has been talk of an adult gym, and incorporating some sea activities in the bay itself.

“A lot of visitors tend to head to the north end of the prom but there is not a great deal to do, apart from the model boat club, and the bay itself lends itself very well to much more activities. The likes of Aubery is now a bit of a dead end with a disused children’s playside. It is needing a bit of attention. The whole prom needs regenerating and redevelopment.

“In terms of improvements to the town centre - we have great difficulty in terms of it being a trunk road, but perhaps making Gallowgate Square a bit more user friendly, with improved landscaping, seating and lighting would be a step forward.”