THE Viking Experience in Largs could be axed to make way for a new library.

The News has learned plans are being considered that could see the attraction closed as council chiefs consider moving the library to Vikingar! from its existing home in Allanpark Street.

There has been an angry reaction to the threat to the popular draw which brings in holidaymakers, school groups and daytrippers to marvel at its reconstruction of Viking life, information facilities and small cinema.

Conservative councillor Tom Marshall today called for the council to invest in the attraction and maximise its appeal.

He said: "I have been asking where the library is going to go in the Vikingar! and one of the officers told me that architects are coming up with proposals and costings to see what is viable.

"I have heard from a member of staff on the council that they are looking at the option of removing the Viking Experience because of reduced numbers.

"There has been absolutely no consultation with local members on this at all.

"I was on the council when they decided to set up the Viking Experience and it got European funding - but the council haven't spent any fresh money on it during the last 20 years.

"It needs revitalised rather than being closed down."

A council spokesperson said all options are still on the table.

The added: “The purpose of the ongoing consultation is to determine which services are important to communities with a view to maximising the delivery of these in community hub locations while reducing the number of buildings for which the council is responsible.

“A report in November will include a summary of the consultation, which in turn will inform next steps in the context of the council’s challenging medium-term financial framework.

“No decisions have been taken and no detail developed relating to the individual buildings under consideration.”

A petition to try and avert the transfer of the Largs Library away from its current location has also been launched by campaigners from Largs Writers' Group. It can be signed at Gavin's Ironmongers in Aitken Street.

They are also staging a march from the library at 2pm on 16 October and this week hit out after council bosses removed placards protesting at the potential move they had fixed on the frontage of the building.

George Whitestone, of the Writers Group. said: "The placards were removed from the grass and put inside. We were disappointed.

"We took the notices back and have instead put them up in gardens in private properties in the same street."

A council spokesperson said: “We respect everyone’s opinion but felt that placards on the grounds of Largs Library were not appropriate at this stage of the process.

“We explained this to the owner of the placards and handed them back."

A political row is brewing over the battle to save community centres and halls.

Labour councillor Alex Gallagher said: "It was SNP Cllr Alan Hill's idea to move the library.

"Unfortunately we are having to deal with cuts to local government funding from the Scottish Government and Westminster amounting to £100m from the council budget since 2010. We are facing another £25m cuts over the next two years.

"Chickens come home to roost and someone has to take responsibility.

"I am sympathetic with the protesters and I am not in favour of moving the library."

Cllr Hill hit back, saying: "If it had not been for an SNP proposal I personally put forward at last year's council budget to host a consultation, the Labour group would have already shut down community centres and libraries.

"As proposals go, moving the library to the Vikingar! would be a lesser evil. The library can sit well within the Vikingar! once it has been re-modelled.

"The current library could then become a community centre which could still be used by Largs Writers Group and others."

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch said: "I am fed up dealing with political rows - it is point scoring - the crucial thing is that all four local councillors need to get together and do something about it - the blame game doesn't take away the fact that there are going to be cuts."