A CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn Barrfields putting green into a car park has split opinions across the town.

Councillors previously agreed to cost plans which would see the creation of spaces at the South side of the putting green in a bid to solve the towns parking issues.

The introduction of decriminalised parking, which will install a one hour no return on town centre parking spaces, has now sparked a fresh discussions on the matter, with councillors saying 'serious consideration' needs to be given to whether a car park is required for tourists and town centre workers.

Opinion has been split across the town on whether the development is needed at all - or if Barrfields is be the right location.

Community Councillor Jim Perman said: "Historically traders were able to get buy a season ticket for the seafront car park and then that would allow them to park all year. Why can't we just bring that back?

"Nobody uses the seafront car park. Outwith the tourist season, that car park is dead.

"So why would anyone want to park as far along as Barrfields and then walk all the way in to town if they don't even want to use the facility we have."

Independent Councillor Ian Murdoch, who proposed the idea, says he stands by the decision to start looking at new car parking for the town.

He said: "Decriminalised parking has been approved and will be coming in to force in the near future.

"We haven't said that the car park at Barrfields is definitely going to happen but this is just the only site we can agree to look at at the moment.

"When people can no longer park on the streets for extended periods of time they are going to need somewhere else to go.

"Workers won't have anywhere to park - and neither will tourists.

"It is important that we find a solution otherwise tourists will stop coming, which will effect business in the town."

Residents of the surrounding houses in Millennium Court have launched a petition against the idea.

Jim Borrie, pictured with wife Sue, lives next to the site and said: "We all think it's dreadful. I cant see them just keeping it to the south side like they suggest, it is going to end up taking over the whole green.

"As it is we have beautiful views but they will be destroyed. Not only that, but all of our house prices will drop in value.

"Our petition has 400 names on it and that isn't just residents, it is people all over the town who are against it.

"There are other places which could be considered which might not have as big an impact.

"Putting a car park on the front is only going to worsen traffic issues as well. It will be a shambles with people queuing to get in.

"The putting green is the only public green space on this side of the road in Largs and it seems to be forgotten that it was left to the town for leisure purposes only."