COUNCILLORS have approved the first stage of the £3million Quarry Road development - but not all of them are happy about it.

Planning permission was last week granted for the East Park office block adjacent to Irvine Bay Gymnastics Club.

The offices will be the new home for KA Leisure - once the Magnum closes - and Business Gateway.

But some councillors were not happy with the way the proposal came about.
Irvine West Councillor Ian Clarkson said the project should be looked at as a whole rather than on a stage by stage basis.

Stage two will see a bid for further Scottish Government funding for a 3G football arena which isn’t yet guaranteed.

North Ayrshire Council hope a new cinema, playing fields, changing facilities, and space for community groups.

The planning committee last week met to discuss the first phase.

Dalry Councillor Robert Barr voiced his vehement opposition to the plans.

He said: “This is in the wrong place, it’s a misuse of green space. It’s a bad plan, people will be asking ‘how’s all the money going to Irvine?’

“That green space should be kept for the public so that’s why I’m saying we reject the application. We have a chance to support these jobs somewhere else.

“We’re on a hiding to nothing here, we should be bringing employment to other areas and give them a wee slice of the cake.”

Planning chief Jim Miller insisted that stage one would not encroach on any green land.

Councillor Clarkson said while he supported the plans overall, he wanted more clarity about issues over traffic and the likelihood of sports facilities.

He added: “When this was first put in expected that phase two would follow it’s changing by the minute.

“The difficulty I have is that these questions were not even been asked, I still think they are important.

“If we’re serious about this whether it’s phase one, two or three it should be taken as a whole.

“This was sold on the fact there was going to be a 3G sports pitch but now there’s serious doubt about that.

“I’m delighted there’s going to be money spent tidying up an area that’s a mess just now but it should be considered as a whole.”

Largs Councillor Tom Marshall, supported by Councillor Robert Steel, lodged an amendment whereby the application would be continued to the next planning meeting to look at the development overall.

That was countered by a motion by SNP Councillor John Ferguson, supported by Councillor Joe Cullinane, who said: “For me this is a classic example of we start with something or finish up with nothing.

“I do not think it’s the beginning of the end.”

However, Councillor Marshall’s amendment won by six votes to four.

After the meeting, Councillor Clarkson said: “The development at Quarry Road was sold to the people of Irvine on the basis of delivering a first class, full sized, indoor sports complex that would put sport in the town on the map.”

“The reality is that the sports complex is not even funded at present, and the ideas now being floated for the area, are a possible downsizing of the sports complex to five a side football pitches and even the resiting and amalgamation of two GP Practices.”

“The people of Irvine are fed up with road works and diversions in the town, so any new development must also consider the extra traffic which would result, in Quarry Road, Woodlands Avenue, and East Road from this.”

“I am clear - I would like to see the site developed, but these issues must be dealt with.”

“Even the Offices for KA Leisure, which we have agreed to, are being rushed through because there are time restraints on the funding.”

“There needs to be greater transparency from the SNP administration on where this development is currently at and a clear commitment that they will not simply deliver office space for KA Leisure to move out of the Magnum and then ditch the more ambitious plans for the area.”

The Times asked the council if they had held discussions with either or both Townhead Surgery and Frew Terrace surgery about moving their practices as part of the new development at Quarry Road.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Following planning approval of the Phase One proposals for Quarry Road, we will now explore all options for the site.

“We will be speaking with a number of potential businesses and partners over the coming weeks but, at this early stage, will not be commenting until firm proposals are in place.