Action is being taken by council chiefs to tackle parking obstructions after concerns were raised at a meeting of Irvine Community Council.

And it will mean double yellow lines in Irvine High Street to prevent a sightline obstruction for drivers. 

Last Wednesday’s monthly community council meeting was told that parking areas in Irvine High Street, across from Hamilton's, and at the Harbour close to the Gro cafe, were causing obstructions.

Community councillor Bill Anderson said: “On the road going out of Irvine, from the Burns pub, there is a mini-roundabout at the Portal. There are three lanes on the road. 

“On the left is straight on, the next one is to turn right to go down the Vennel, and the other one is for traffic going to Kilmarnock.

"Across from Hamilton’s, outside the barbers, there is a planted area and people have been parking there all the time for years.

“People turning right to go down the Vennel have to stop to let traffic pass - or if they stop there the traffic heading from Kilmarnock has to stop to allow them to turn the corner.

“Years ago the council were asked to put double yellow lines at the planted area to stop people parking. They have been looking into it for a number of years.

"It is a main road and people are causing an blocking the road.”

Fellow member Jean Walker said: “It is the same situation outside Gro at the Harbourside, and I think there should be double yellow lines there to restrict people parking.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Requests have been received previously for the installation of double yellow lines outside Gro in Irvine.

"However, it is considered that parking near Gro is satisfactorily regulated, and there are no plans to introduce a parking restriction. 

“We have no record of previously having received a request for a parking restriction on the High Street opposite Hamilton's.

"However, a safety issue has been identified with parked vehicles causing an obstruction to both sightlines exiting the junction at Kirk Vennel and to traffic flow. 

“In order to address these concerns, a temporary Traffic Regulation Order will be implemented to enable a double yellow line parking restriction to be installed as soon as possible until an order can be introduced to make the restriction permanent.”