A BID to free up more car parking spaces in Largs town centre as part of an enforcement overhaul looks set to be further delayed.

Proposals to reduce cars parking in Main Street for extended periods was being considered under parking decriminalisation plans that were set to put one hour limits in place.

Additional car parking charges would have also come into force at the Gateside Street car park to help generate more revenue for the council as part of the shake-up.

The changes were part of the changes that would have seen the introduction of enforcement of parking laws passed from the police and taken on by North Ayrshire Council.

These plans however have now been delayed until at least May 2022.

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch asked council leader Joe Cullinane for the latest position regarding the situation at meeting earlier this week.

Cllr Cullinane said: “In September 2019, full council agreed that an application seeking the introduction of decriminalised parking enforcement across the North Ayrshire Council area should be prepared and submitted to Scottish Government.

"A draft DPE application was thereafter submitted to Transport Scotland for assessment in March last year.

"Progress of the application has been significantly delayed due to the ongoing pandemic and parliamentary elections.

"As a result, we do not anticipate approval of the application and subsequent implementation of decriminalised parking in North Ayrshire this council term.”

Police will continue monitoring parking enforcement in the interim period.

Community councillor Andy Adair, who has long rallied for change to parking laws within the town, has hit out at the council over the fresh delay.

He said: "It is not good enough to use the pandemic and then the Scottish Parliament elections as an excuse to delay the decriminalisation of parking in Largs.

"We need something done before the summer season arrives and we go through more parking chaos.

"This has become an annual fiasco and now it will go on even longer."

The local government term runs until May 2022 when the next council elections take place.