A PLAN has been revealed to convert a former Chinese takeaway in Fairlie into a pharmacy.

The applicants say that due to a rise in demand with more new housing built in recent years they feel there is a need for a village chemist.

Residents living in the village currently need to travel to Largs or West Kilbride to pick up medication.

A joint consultation is underway for the proposed development at 88 Main Road to gather views from the local community on the proposal.

It aims to gauge local opinion on whether people feel they already have adequate access to pharmacy services, as well as measure the level of local support for the proposal.

The information gathered as part of this process will be made available to Ayrshire and Arran Health Board's pharmacy practices committee when it meets to consider the application.

It approved, the business will open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and be closed on a Sunday.

Services will include the dispensing of medicines, and urgent provision of repeat medications, a gluten free food scheme, out of hours dispensing and a stoma service.

It will also offer health screening services such as blood pressure and cholesterol monitoring, as well as a weight management service.

The consultation document states: "We believe that a pharmacy is now absolutely necessary for the village to ensure that an adequate provision of pharmaceutical services are delivered to the residents of the village. With the recent housing development, there is an overwhelming need for services to be expanded.

"This will be of great benefit to the residents in enhancing their health and wellbeing."

The premises in the Main Street has been a takeaway shop in the village with various different owners in the past 20 years but it has been closed recently with the building put up for sale.

Villagers are now to be given the opportunity to say whether they want the new venture go ahead.

To take part in the consultation, which will run for the next 90 days, go to tinyurl.com/2p9477sm