Much-needed improvements to a hazardous stretch of road south of West Kilbride came closer on Wednesday when North Ayrshire Council agreed to seek a compulsory purchase order for the necessary land.

The Council want to realign the B7047 just before it enters the town at Thirdmailing, where a series of bends skirt a steep embankment.

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They want to make it safer, straighter, improve sightlines and re-site it away from the embankment.

Ronnie Small, Head of Infrastructure and Design Services, told a Council meeting that protracted discussions with the landowner’s agent had been unsuccessful. It had not been possible to agree on the level of compensation. It was important the Council promoted the order as soon as possible because experience showed it could take up to two years to implement.

The proposals, he said, were made in the interests of road safety. They covered 2,558 square metres of ground east of the existing road.

(GK/JM)