COUNCILLORS have approved a £6.5million bid to improve transport in North Ayrshire.

Members of North Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet last week agreed to lodge a series of bids which would improve transport issues in Irvine and Kilwinning.

In total, the council hope to obtain £6,572,500 in funding from SPT, Sustrans and other council services.

The funding, if successful, would see £200,000 from SPT put towards bus route congestion measures in Irvine and Kilwinning to provide bus priority traffic lights throughout the towns.

Other projects lined up include the next stage of the Irvine Cycle Friendly Town study (£500,000), improved roads/bus stops in Irvine High Street (£490,000) and upgrading Kilwinning’s cycle network between Woodside and Dalry Road (£400,000).

In addition, £30,000 is being sought to improve roads in the Irvine West region as is £200,000 for a study to potentially improve connections between Irvine and the Three Towns.

Back in June, the previous Cabinet agreed to receive a report on potential funding applications for 2017/18.

Over £1million of funding is secured on an annual basis for transport priorities - despite slashed budgets and limited availability of match funding.

But the council hope to be successful in developing the wide range of projects across North Ayrshire.

A report presented to Cabinet yesterday (Tuesday, November 8), stated: “Extensive consultation was undertaken in the preparation of strategic documents which inform the proposals for which funding is to be sought. 

“This includes the Local Transport Strategy, Outdoor Access Strategy, North Ayrshire Naturally Active and the North Ayrshire Core Paths Plan. 

“The projects proposed take account of the feedback obtained through this consultation process.

“Public consultation on the details of the projects for example scheme design and specification will be undertaken on a project by project basis.”