Save Our Seafront

Text of Press release sent to Largs & Millport Weekly News. 

 

 

24th April 2009

Councillor Alex Gallagher Issues a Call to Protect Largs Seafront From Insensitive Development

 

Local Labour Councillor Alex Gallagher today issued a call for his colleagues to support his plan for more protection for the seafront in Largs.

 

“Given the recent controversy over Moorburn House it has become clear to me that the seafront area, which is a jewel in the crown of Largs, is vulnerable to attempts at insensitive planning. At present the seafront is protected by agreed planning “guidelines”, but these are not the strongest defence that we can envisage.”

 

Stating that the creation of a new Development Plan for North Ayrshire provided a unique opportunity to set the planning rules more tightly and in perpetuity, Councillor Gallagher said, “I believe that, during the previous Development Plan Process a suggestion was made that Largs seafront should enjoy Conservation Area Status, but this was rejected by the Reporter at the time. Now that the Development Plan is being rewritten, we have a real opportunity to reverse this decision,”

 

Calling for the support of all local councillors in this endeavour, Cllr Gallagher said, “We need to be united on this. I believe if all four local councillors can get together to influence the plan and persuade the relevant authorities, we may have a chance of giving our seafront the protection it needs from the type of development which has destroyed so many of our seafront vistas in the last ten years.”

 

Pointing out that there are previous examples of successful seafront campaigns, and that all of the other councillors had been in support of these campaigns, he stated “If we can all be supportive of this idea, it has a chance to work. If we are divided, we have much less chance of success. The alternative, with blocks of flats and other unsuitable developments on the Largs seafront, is too horrible to contemplate”.

 

“To this end I have written to the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Protective Services) and the Planning Development Manager to alert them of the need for greater protection for Largs seafront, and to ask them to ensure that it is given proper consideration in the Development Plan Process, and to all North Coast Ward elected members asking for their support for these aims.”

 

 

Alex Gallagher

Councillor Ward Eight