What now for the site of the former Douglas Park shelter in Largs?

It was the scene of a controversial demolition on Monday 30 October 2017 after neighbours' concerns about anti social behaviour and fire-raising at the site.

And it has taken North Ayrshire Council nearly 20 weeks to respond to a Largs Community Council complaint over how the matter had been handled by the local authority.

They now want to know what the council have planned for the site, and believe current chief executive Craig Hatton made a commitment to replacing the shelter with an alternative project.

A Largs and Fairlie growers group were left ‘shocked’ at the original demolition, as they have already been involved in a protracted community asset transfer which involved taking over this particular area of Douglas Park, including the shelter, to provide an environmental development.

Largs Community Council had voted to demolish the building, but complained afterwards that they were not given adequate information in relation to the community environment project at the site which, they say, would have altered their outlook on their original decision.

The community council have written to North Ayrshire Council in response to their findings to an official complaint they made to North Ayrshire Council regarding the matter.

Drew Cochrane said: "We have decided not to roll over -we had legitimate complaints about what went on and the lack of communication and we are still not happy with it."

"It took North Ayrshire 136 days to reply to our official protest about what happened." Community councillor Jim Perman, who opposed the Douglas Park demolition from the start, pointed out that North Ayrshire Council had appeared to give a commitment to replacing the shelter after it was demolished - in correspondence between current chief executive Craig Hatton and local councillor Alex Gallagher.

He said: "Craig Hatton replied to Cllr Gallagher on 20 July 2017 - once we have a clear way forward and time scale of a potential demolition, I will arrange to meet with the ward members to discuss thoughts on a potential replacement.

"Alex Gallagher responded 'It sticks in the throat as it is a perfectly sound structure - we can't knock it down without replacing it with something."

Mr Perman added: "So what has happened?"

Mr Cochrane said he would incorporate the question into his letter to North Ayrshire Council which he was penning in relation to their discontent with how their complaint was handled.

Speaking to the 'News', Labour councillor Alex Gallagher said that meetings were held with local councillors at the time, and various options were looked at, including the community garden becoming involved.

However, nothing came to fruition, and he added: "I would question whether it would be suitable for another structure given that the one that was there was vandalised and burnt to ground and caused a nuisance to local community and if something else was put up, it could be vandalised again."

North Ayrshire Council comment to follow.