LARGS has plenty to shout about despite the challenges facing businesses in the town centre, a local councillor has insisted.
Ian Murdoch says it's important to focus on the positives of what Largs has to offer residents and visitors amid "huge investment" in the town.
Councillor Murdoch told members of Largs Community Council that all was far from "doom and gloom" in the area, and pointed to the major investment at the new 'Thirty3' premises, formerly Lounge, which is due to open in July, as well as the recent refurbishment of the Brisbane House Hotel.
He also said he remained hopeful that a buyer could be found for the vacant building formerly occupied by M&Co in the Main Street, which has been lying empty for a year as of this week.
Cllr Murdoch said: “We had all this about doom and gloom about businesses closing, but the old council yard at Jewsons has been redeveloped and made into storage units, the Sheiling has been taken over by the soft play, you have two nail bars coming, and the M&S Foodhall is coming.
“M&Co is being marketed and I hold a bit of hope that someone will take that over.
"The former Lounge is nearly being completed as Thirty3, and that is a huge renovation for the town, with new windows going in, the sandstone has been done, and the interior has had a huge amount of work done to it.
“Go round the corner and there is a new bathroom shop, and it is lovely. And you go further along and the owner of Tinto Tapas is renovating Helter Skelter and making it into a new restaurant."
The M&S Foodhall is currently due to open in 2025, bringing 50 jobs to the town.
Cllr Murdoch continued: "There is a plan for the renovation upstairs at the former Anaya’s. There is no tenant for that yet, but there is somebody about to sign the lease on the former Albert’s Bar, and that is hugely positive.
"If you look in, you will see new windows and new renovations and new interior.
"Allegria has been a success, and it wasn’t all that long ago that it was lying empty.
"The Brisbane House Hotel has had millions spent on it and it is absolutely amazing. So where is the doom and gloom?
"Any other town would be screaming out for that investment."
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