THREE public consultation events are set to take place next week in Kilwinning, Saltcoats and Dalry to provide more information on proposals to upgrade a vital North Ayrshire road link.

The multi-million-pound B714 upgrade project, which includes the creation of a potential new link between the road and the A737, was approved as part of a successful North Ayrshire Council funding bid to the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund.

The B714 links the trunk road network from the A78 Sharphill Roundabout - Three Towns Bypass - to the A737 at the south end of Dalry, and it is a vital link for road users travelling between the Three Towns and the Garnock Valley and to the West Coast and ferry links to Arran and Cumbrae.

According to the council, the upgrade of the B714 will:

  • Improve connectivity between North Ayrshire and Glasgow, the central belt and wider motorway network
  • Enhance connectivity and road safety between the Garnock Valley and the Three Towns
  • Boost potential for tourism and economic development and provide enhanced links to the Arran and Cumbrae Ferry services
  • Help repopulate the islands and rural areas by providing improved access between the ferry terminals, mainland settlements, Glasgow, the central belt and wider motorway network
  • Divert a significant volume of traffic accessing the A78 away from Kilwinning as traffic will connect directly to the A78 via the new upgraded B714

Once completed, the scheme will comprise over 6.5km of new single carriageway and adjacent segregated 3m wide active travel provision.

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This will allow cyclists and pedestrians to travel actively between Dalry and Saltcoats and enjoy a route that would not previously have been attractive to users. There may also be the opportunity to improve facilities for horse riders around the route.

The council will receive £23.7 million from the Levelling Up Fund and contribute a further 10 per cent match funding to the project.

The three public exhibitions have been arranged so people in the communities can inform the development of the proposals.

Three drop-in sessions will be held next week at Kilwinning Academy on Tuesday, November 15; Saltcoats Town Hall on Wednesday, November 16 and Dalry Primary School on Thursday, November 17. Each session will run from 4.30pm to 8.30pm.

An online session will also take place from 4pm to 7pm on Monday, November 21.

To register your interest for the virtual meeting and to book a slot, email your details to b714upgrade@north-ayrshire.gov.uk before Thursday, November 17.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Drop-in sessions will be held next weekDrop-in sessions will be held next week (Image: North Ayrshire Council)

The consultation information will also be available in seven libraries from the start of the consultation period to allow as many people as possible to get involved. Hard copies are also available on request by e-mail from transportation@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or by telephone via 01294 310000. An online survey will also be available.

The libraries involved are: Kilwinning, Dalry and the Three Towns of Saltcoats, Stevenston and Ardrossan as well as Beith and Kilbirnie in the Garnock Valley.

Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for economy and climate change, said: "The B714 upgrade will bring many benefits to the Garnock Valley, Kilwinning and the Three Towns.

"It is important that as many people as possible go along to the public meetings, fill in the online survey and read the information that will be available online, in the libraries or on request. We want communities to get involved.

"This project will significantly improve connectivity, contribute to the repopulation of our islands and rural areas, improve road safety and ease traffic congestion.

"It is vitally important that we get public feedback."

You can find out more about the project here.