A LOCAL Tory councillor has labelled the coronavirus lockdown 'heavy-handed' - and called for local recycling centres and golf courses to be re-opened.

Tom Marshall has said the current situation will create 'real difficulties' unless it is eased by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tomorrow.

Fellow SNP councillor Alan Hill hit back, saying it was a 'ludicrous suggestion' to open such facilities until the medical evidence states that it is safe to do so.

Cllr. Marshall said: "I can foresee real difficulties with the differences north and south of the border.

"For instance, why can't Kelburn Golf Course be re-opened, as long as people stick to the 2m restrictions?

"I also think it is a shame that the area is not getting any grass cutting done.

"With social distancing, you can't have people less than 2m apart so the argument being used is that you can't have two people in a council van.

"The post office in Largs have found a clever way of getting round that by having one guy in a van and having another worker making his own way to the destination on foot."

Councillor Hill however defended the current position.

He said:"We will be back to normal as soon as we can and landfill sites will be open as soon as it is feasible to do so.

"I have much more faith in what Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Government are telling me than Cllr Marshall. I have no faith in the Conservative party and Boris Johnston given their track record to date."

Cllr. Ian Murdoch told the News that the lockdown restrictions were sensible.

He said: "I can't understand people who are saying that lockdown should be lifted earlier for recycling centres.

"The council have done a brilliant job providing 500,000 free meals in North Ayrshire and providing a full bin lifting service.

"I am at a loss to understand how people can complain when we have combating against a pandemic - some people just don't get it."

A council spokesperson said: “Many local authorities have had to suspend or alter household bin collections, however in North Ayrshire we have redeployed staff from other areas to keep all kerbside collections running as normal.

"We continue to monitor national guidance and will be ready to re-open our centres at the earliest opportunity.

"Our approach will include appropriate traffic management arrangements to ensure the re-opening process is as smooth as possible for customers.

“We have implemented a range of physical distancing measures for staff carrying out essential services, and these will continue to be required when restrictions are eased and we bring further services back on-line.”