THE Vikingar! building has too many corridors and too much wasted space a public meeting has been told.

Representatives of the Amion company, who are drawing up a blueprint for the possible future use of the Largs leisure complex, said that early impressions were that the place could be better utilised.

One consultant said: “The foyer is unwelcoming and the mix of uses don’t really sit well together.” She was referring to the fact that Barrfields Pavilion Theatre did not have its own entrance, and the auditorium was used for gym and zumba.

Users who attended the consultation in July were reminded that the swimming pool was over 40 years old, and showing its age, and that the Vikingar! visitor attraction was 20 years old, and had declining numbers.

One question being looked at was whether it should be redeveloped as a 21st century visitor attraction with, for example, the Valhalladrome theatre being freed up for wider use by the community.

Consultants have also questioned whether the large grass area in front of the building should be used as a putting green.

She commented: “There’s a lot of space but not always used for the best purposes.

“There is a suggestion that Largs library could be relocated here and you could encourage a more social, functional interaction.” The consultants, appointed by North Ayrshire Council, have looked at the ways in which Pitlochry Theatre, the Ryan Centre in Stranraer, and the Jorvic Centre, York are used to see whether Vikingar! could follow any of their ideas.

Those representing the various user groups at Vikingar! were divided into discussion groups and, as part of the conclusions, it was evident that there were vested interests in theatre, the KA fitness centre, gym classes and the Viking heritage.

Amion hope to come forward with a document which will propose how the varied uses of Vikingar! can be accommodated in a new-look structure which would need to attract substantial funding.

They will come up with an architectural assessment of the site which was gifted to the townspeople by Mr William Barr after whom Barrfields was named, taking in the football ground too.

Consultants will address what is physically possible at Vikingar! and what can be changed and improved.

It was in 1993 that North Ayrshire Council created the complex, combining the original 1930 theatre with the swimming pool, and adding the visitor attraction which has 20,000 customers, mostly from school trips.

Consultants told the recent meeting that a 475 seat theatre was a real asset and could be used all year round.

Another idea being looked at is the revival of a cafe/restaurant. When the council handed over the running of leisure services to KA Leisure the original first floor restaurant was replaced by the fitness centre, while the ground floor cafe was closed earlier this year.

The KA Fitness Centre has proven to be a success, the meeting was told.