Plans to turn the remaining part of the Lanes amusement arcade into a cafe and betting office have been lodged with planners.

The applications, which also include a smaller amusement arcade, bring the total number of businesses now operating or in the process of applying to operate from the building to five.

The plans for a new cafe, arcade and betting office have been lodged with council planners.

The proposed cafe, rumoured to be taken on by Costa, would be sited at the south end of the building, with a redesigned entrance and permanent outdoor seating on the wide section of pavement outside. Indicative proposals would see the cafe operate between 7am and 8pm, seven days a week.

The betting office would be situated in the centre of the building, between the new cafe and the recently opened Co-op, with entrances at both the Gallowgate Street and promenade sides. It has been suggested that bookmaker William Hill could relocate from its Aitken Street premises. However, the company had not confirmed or denied this as we went to press.

Largs community council chose to object to betting shop citing concern about the type of operation in one of the town’s busiest tourist areas. These concerns will be relayed to council planners.

Local councillors Alan Hill, Tom Marshall and Grace McLean also agreed to ask to bring the application before the planning committee rather than have the decision made without committee approval under delegated powers.

However, Councillor Marshall told the News that he believes the attempt will be difficult as the grounds for calling in the application would be ineffective under planning laws which allow for a change of use in an area of town centre earmarked for business use.