Bringing Largs Prom into 21st century

New designs for Largs Promenade and Gallowgate Square have been unveiled by North Ayrshire Council and is set for public consultation early in the new year.

A total of £126,000 has been earmarked from the seafront car park fund for the seafront improvements which are set to be constructed after the summer season in 2017.

The designs gained a mixed response from community councillors at the Clark Memorial Church Hall during a recent presentation to the community partnership group.

However, there was some reluctance expressed by Rita Holmes of Fairlie and Kay Hall of West Kilbride at the meeting to the new designs, while Ian Murdoch of Largs later said the shelter at Aubery looked like 'Sydney Opera House'.

The funds will be spent on resurfacing specific areas of the prom as identified in the Largs Masterplan, providing a new innovative shelter at Aubery, with relaxing areas along the prom for young and old, including fitness equipment. Similar prom improvements have been made to seaside resorts including Brighton. New planter areas will provide a break between the seafront car park and the promenade.

Labour councillor Alex Gallagher, who is the economy chair for North Ayrshire Council, said: "Both developments at Gallowgate Street and the promenade are to be welcomed. From my own personal point of view, I am pleased about the improvements to the prom as this was one of my election promises in 2012, and unfortunately at the time Labour didn't get into administration at the time, but now that we are back in administration, the prom is the focus for the next five years, should we get re-elected. However, in fairness, all the councillors have supported the move.

"We have seen indicative designs, and I am certainly pleased with the way it is going but I think the colours schemes might be a bit rash. I was in Shetland recently and they have been building a lot of similar Scandinavian style kit with colours which are more muted, and more suited to the northern environment. I broadly support the design and approach."

The designs have been carried out by TGP Architects.

Gallowgate Square a priority for some of the events so the idea is to create a performance space for markets.

"We have a ribbon which will take people from centre of the town to Aubery and along that ribbon there will be a series of interventions through seating and other aspects. We have looked at various aspects with the council which will reduce the maintenance, and bring the promenade into the 21st century. These are designs which have taken place in other seaside resorts around the world.

"We are aware of the climate and storms in the winter so we have to have robust materials. We have employed some architects to see what can be an iconic structure or building in Aubery Park by creating a new modern structure which can be a shelter, look out point, and you can even play on it.

"There is a refurbishment to the shelter halfway along the promenade, and these are design ideas and concepts all the way along the coastline."

Creating more open space is also one of the aims behind the project TGP Architects.

The upcoming proposals of the sea wall defence will also be taken cognisance of in the new prom improvements.

Some members of the group stated that having visited Brighton, they were surprised about the amount of people who use the outdoor gym facilities.

Councillor Tom Marshall said: "Bear in mind when you walk along the seafront, most people are slightly older, some of them may have a difficult job getting on to some of the equipment and seating."

It was also pointed out that having good access would be an important factor in the new project, with the new Parasports Centre being built at Inverclyde Sports Centre.

No Largs Community Council members were present at the committee, but others were invited for their views.

Fairlie community councillor Rita Holmes said: "Most people come to Largs for a nice weekend, the lovely weather, and the natural aspect of the sea, looking at these designs, I am not sure they are actually the right thing to put along the prom which does have a certain charm. I am sure the colours will be changed, but to my mind, the designs look like an eyesore, particularly at the seascape and grassy areas, and you have to get Aubery Park right."

And regarding the shelters, Sergeant Alexandra Marshall of Largs Police said: "You don't want anything that will attract anti-social behaviour from a policing points of view."

Kay Hall of West Kilbride added: "Some of the shapes are not very natural like the matchstick concepts, and don't seem to fit into the area, and I do worry about some of the seating."

Jim Cumming, Project Officer, said there would be a public consultation early in the new year where the public will get the opportunity to provide their own views on the new prom and Gallowgate Square designs. Mr Cumming said that the Gallowgate Square plans would take cognisance of the current wheelie bin problem.