ROADS campaigners have welcomed the improvements to the A78 between Largs and Skelmorlie - but Largs businesses continue to slam the timing of the project.

John Corrigan, who owns Deli Il Cardo delicatessen in Largs, is fuming, as are a number of local businesses over the roadworks clashing with school holidays in April.

The repairs were completed at 6am on Monday morning following two weekends of closures.

It is part of Transport Scotland’s strategic trunk road management programme, Scotland TranServ will shortly complete more than £3.2 million of investment into the A78.

Meigle resident Archie Burleigh congratulated the 'no fuss' works, but Mr Corrigan branded the timing as 'ridiculous'.

He said: "The roads authority need to come up with some kind of explanation behind why this keeps happening over the busy weeks in April.

"For many businesses in the town, this is the first busy period and it is unbelievable that a major road between Largs and Skelmorlie has been closed while the schools are off for the second year running.

"Nobody is disputing the work needs done, but the timing is all wrong. Despite our concerns, they just pressed ahead." Local businesses claimed that they stood to lose thousands of pounds worth of business because of the decision.

Largs Independent councillor Ian Murdoch said: "I asked various questions to Transport Scotland in January about the state of the A78 between Hunterston and Wemyss Bay and subsequently we arranged a meeting which involved all four councillors, all local community councillors, Transport Scotland, Transerv and North Ayrshire roads.

"There was a wide consultation and during that meeting I raised all of these timing concerns and more.

"The dates decided upon were the available dates Transport Scotland and Transerv had for the project.

"If we had waited till September or October, the weather could have turned and it might have been unsuitable for laying the surface altogether.

"We couldn't lose this window.

"I have to say Transerv have done a very good job over the two weekends and the job is now complete as far as I can see, and they even included Shellgrip at the former Manor Park Hotel area.

"Transerv will start the road resurfacing scheme in Fairlie in late September and early October and it is almost certain that the road through Fairlie will be shut for a period of weeks."

Meanwhile drivers can expect further travel disruption between West Kilbride and Ardrossan next week.

Resurfacing of carriageway will be carried out under daytime weekday convoy. This £118k project will improve the road surface between the Rowan Tree Restaurant in West Kilbride, and Montfode Roundabout outside Ardrossan.

Convoy traffic management will be in place on Tuesday 23rd April, 8am to 5pm on Wednesday 24th April, 8am to 5pm on Thursday 25th April, 8am to 5pm on Friday 26th April

Further lining works will also be carried out overnight on Saturday between 8pm and 6am the following morning.