PLANS have been lodged to develop a derelict site in Stevenston which was previously being eyed by North Ayrshire Council.

However, a new planning application for the site which was formerly home to the Lonsdale Bar has not come from the local authority.

Instead, an application to change the use of the land has been submitted on behalf of land owner Mr Jiyar Ali Hashmi.

These proposals would see the use changed from that of a 'public house' to a that of a 'class four' light industrial bussiness.

More specifically, Mr Hashmi wants to transform the vacant site into a car wash which would include parking spaces for 12 vehicles.

Planning documents explain how the overgrown site off Townhead Road would be levelled and finished entirely in tarmac if permission is granted.

Under the proposals, the site would have a one-way system, with vehicles entering from the side closest to Stevenston Cross and exiting at the side nearest the Ardeer service station.

As well as an area for the washing of vehicles, the plans include two valet areas and temporary accomodation which would include a waiting room, toilet and kitchen and store for staff.

In June of last year, the newly formed SNP administration at North Ayrshire Council was questioned on its plans for the site by John Sweeney, a Labour councillor for the Saltcoats and Stevenston ward.

Labour said it had planned to buy the land and bring it back into use before the local government elections in May 2022.

The land was advertised for sale online, with an asking price of £70,000, around the time of a full council meeting a month after the election.

 

At that time, Cllr Sweeney said: “The Lonsdale site has been a blight on Stevenston for years and action is needed to tackle the problem.

“When the SNP last ran the council, they put a bed sheet over the site’s fencing to hide the embarrassment of it during the Commonwealth Games baton relay.

"Under Labour, we tried to bring the site into council ownership.

“It is important that the council follows through with that ownership plan, taking control of the site and putting it back into productive use for our town."

In the chamber, SNP councillor Tony Gurney said that "valuations have been obtained" for the site, and that "the council has been in contact with the land owner".

But Cllr Gurney added that Labour had had five years as the council's administration themselves and "still could not bring the site back into use".

He added: "It shows the difficulties we have for this derelict area."

These latest car wash plans were submitted to North Ayrshire Council last week, and are currently pending consideration.

They can be viewed in full via the council's online planning portal, searching for reference 23/00260/PP.