Published: Wednesday, 17th March, 2010 9:33am

GOOGLE CASTS ITS EYE OVER IRVINE AND KILWINNING

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EYE SPY: A Google Street View image of Irvine. Courtesy of Google.

CONTROVERSIAL internet application Google Street View has finally cast its all seeing eye over Irvine and Kilwinning.

Last Thursday the system - which allows users to access 360 degree images of streets and homes - increased from a simple image of the A78 and A737 through Kilwinning to covering almost every street in the towns.

You can now go online and "walk" along every road in the towns - with the ability to zoom in on individual buildings.

However, it is this very application that has provoked anger among some residents.

Google has provided street view in British cities since last March - a move which has proved contentious, with community groups arguing that it has invaded their privacy as well as providing criminals with access to a method of "reconnaissance" in targeting businesses and residential areas.

READ THE FULL REPORT IN THIS WEEK'S TIMES