PLANS to shut a long stretch of the A78 in Largs for an entire weekend in May have been shelved after councillors branded the plan 'intolerable'.

Infrastructure company Amey had wanted to shut the A78 from just beyond Anthony Road, near the Haylie Brae junction, to the roundabout outside Morrisons for resurfacing work for two days in May. 

The closure would have forced a huge diversion for motorists, but thankfully the works have been averted for now.

And Amey's plans, which were branded "unacceptable" by North Ayrshire councillors, have now been delayed until later in the year.

Councillors were unanimous in their view that the closure was unacceptable.

Following a meeting between councillors and roads bosses earlier this month, Amey agreed to go away and reconsider the proposals.

Cllr Marshall told the News that 'common sense had prevailed' and said: "Recently all five councillors in this ward met with Amey who were proposing to close the trunk road through the centre of Largs for a weekend in May and our argument was that that would cause untold misery and affect businesses in the town. They listened and reprogrammed.

"The works proposed should take place after the tourist season in late October when traffic flows are much less."

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch said: "It was impossible to agree to this timescale but the problem is that this road is needing resurfaced.

"It should have been done in February or March, not at the height of the tourism season."

A future date has still to be confirmed for the works.