A NEW voluntary bike group which takes elderly and infirm residents out and about have hit out at the delays building a shore-front footpath in Fairlie.

The project repeatedly missed funding deadlines from access group Sustrans to help finance its construction, with the long-running delays sparking anger among locals.

Nancy and Malcolm McQueen, who run the Organic Growers of Fairlie Group, helped launch the Cycling Without Age campaign, with their tri-shaw bikes used to help socially isolated individuals in the community.

Malcolm told the News that the hold-up is denying local people the opportunity to make the most of their coastline.

He said: "It is very disappointing that nothing seems to be happening with the shore-front path.

"We are able to take people along Largs seafront in the bikes but the opportunity cannot be afforded to us in Fairlie until the path is built.

"It would be a great asset for Fairlie."

The development was passed by councillors in 2014, but five years later only a small segment has been completed.

Councillor Tom Marshall today hit out at the long wait and says he has raised the matter with North Ayrshire Council's chief executive Craig Hatton.

He said: “It is extremely disappointing to find out that the timescale for completing the Fairlie path has not been maintained.

"I have spent the last few months trying to get an update, only to be informed that the previously earmarked funding has been lost for some reason. The licences that had been previously obtained have expired and the laborious consultation with the community needs to be revisited.

"To say this is all a major disappointment is an understatement, especially when the main reason for building the beach path was to provide a safe pedestrian route through the village.

"I will be asking questions as to why this delay has been allowed to happen and to seek reassurances that the work will be done soon."

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch told the News that he has also been asking for a progress report.

Last year we reported that £300,000 of funding had been secured from Sustrans Scotland’s Community Links Fund for the development, which was due to be built by March. This was then extended to May, but this deadline has also now come and gone.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesman said: "The next phase of path works are in the process of being procured. A timescale for the works will be agreed with the successful contractor when they are appointed.

"A further application has been submitted to Sustrans Scotland’s Places for Everyone programme for funding for 2019/20.

"The outcome of this will be known in late June or early July."