CAMPAIGNERS have unveiled innovative plans for new holiday flats on Millport - inside the proposed new town hall.

The Friends of Millport Town Hall have revealed designs featuring three self catering properties to help fund the upkeep of the hall, as well as a job for a caretaker.

The plans were presented at a public meeting in the DA Hall attended by 100 people.

Designs showed a pair of spacious two bedroom flats and a smaller one bedroom one, which would all be situated on the top floor of the building and available to rent.

The plans also allow for a live-in caretaker on the lower ground to maintain the security of the building.

There will also be an employment opportunity for a development manager for the project.

Campaigner Angela McCallum said: "It was an extremely positive and well attended meeting and the community were keen to discuss the plans and how the building can be both sustainable and huge community asset for the long term future.

"This is a viable proposition.

"Friends of Millport Town Hall have received 120 offers of help from those who are keen to get involved in volunteering, meaning this would be a truly community-led initiative."

A meeting is to be held with the council during coming few weeks time where a business and financial plans will be presented.

Angela added: "An application is currently with the charities regulator for a new charity called Millport Town Hall, and once this status is approved an asset transfer request can be made.

"Fundraising can now begin in earnest."

Plans include making the building accessible for all with a lift wide enough for a wheelchair.

There will be a glass atrium to the main entrance, which is to the side of the building into the lower ground floor, giving access into a reception area.

The suspended ceiling of the main hall would be removed to reveal the original domed ceiling space, which will enhance acoustics.

Friends of Millport Town Hall have engaged O’Donnel Brown, an award winning Glasgow-based architectural practice, and Thomas Laurie OBE FRICS as lead consultant, who both attended the presentation.

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch said: "I was so delighted to observe a very organised and well attended meeting.

"The committee and the consultants presented their case in an enthusiastic, positive and very much a professional manner.

"I was so impressed by how far the project has evolved since I attended an early meeting and I was particularly impressed by the business case for generating income through the holiday lets.

"As I said at the meeting. If the numbers add up, they comply with NAC regulation and the committee are successful in their application to achieve charitable status, I will have no problem supporting them in this venture."

The Millport Town Hall Charity will be run by the community, for the community, and have free membership.