IRVINE residents are calling on council chiefs to clean up a derelict pub which, they say is ruining the town centre.

Ruby Tuesday’s pub in Bridgegate has lay abandoned for more than seven years but fed up locals are now demanding North Ayrshire Council take direct action on the ‘eyesore’.

At a meeting of Irvine Community Council last week June Niven, chair of the council and Castlepark resident, said: “That building really is an eyesore. It’s bringing the look of the rest of the town centre down. It’s about time the council did something about.

“There was talk of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) abut nothing has materialised. I think that’s exactly what needs to happen. We will be writing to them to find out what they plan to do.” Although it only closed its doors seven years ago, The Times can reveal that the former nightspot has been at the centre of controversy for more than 20 years.

In a news story in 1995 the Times reported how the Licensing Board of the council had branded the pub - which was still open at the time - and eyesore, citing threadbare carpets, broken stairs and missing tiles.

Councillors were so fed up with the disrepair at the popular hotspot that they ordered owners to clean up their act in five weeks or they would take action.

Twenty years on and the desolate former pub’s problems rumble on and while pressure continues to grow for NAC bosses to determine its future by way of a CPO.

The council have already spent thousands of pounds dealing with pigeon infestation in the building with talks of turning it into a community hub.

However the building, along with its loading bay, are still officially private property.

The council insist that they have attempted to make contact with the owner of Ruby Tuesday’s but claim they have so far been unsuccessful.

Last year, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company completed their multi-million pound redevelopment of Irvine’s Bridgegate and Trinity Church but that area has largely been ignored.

A compulsory purchase order of Ruby Tuesday’s has not been ruled out by NAC who say that the property will be continually monitored.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The future of the former Ruby Tuesday’s is continually being examined and we are considering our options.

Compulsory purchase action cannot be ruled out but at this moment there is no CPO in place.” MP Brian Donohoe has also weighed-in on the debate previously telling the Irvine Times: “This sorry building sticks out like a sore thumb in a town centre which is otherwise looking great. It is a huge embarrassment.

“I can’t understand why this one derelict unit has been allowed to spoil the appearance of a shopping centre which won a national landscaping award.

“I accept there can be confusion over property ownership when a business closes but surely North Ayrshire Council and Irvine Bay have had ample time to sort this.

“Perhaps they need to go down the route of compulsory purchase and then work on securing another tenant in what is a prime location. I am sure it will be much easier to attract a business now that Bridgegate has been given a new lease of life."