News & Updates

There are two issues that the Licensing Committee want public views on:

• Whether or not there should be a Land Train in Largs in 2021 – they will be looking at this single proposal at their meeting on Wednesday 18 August 2021. If you have a view about that, see “How to contact us” below and send us an email by Friday 13 August 2021 at 4.00 pm.
• Apart from the Largs Land Train 2021 proposal, on Wednesday 15 September 2021 the Committee will be looking at making policy:
  • for the whole of North Ayrshire,
  • for 2022 and later years,
  • For all public carriages – Land Trains, Rickshaws, Pedicabs and Tuk-Tuks (Taxis and Private Hire Cars are already licensed, but under different legislation)

If you have a view about any of the above, see “How to contact us” below and send us an email by Friday 10 September 2021 at 4.00 p.m.

The two consultations

1. The Land Train in Largs in 2021

As well as the deciding what the general policy should be all over North Ayrshire for Land Trains, rickshaws, pedicabs and tuk-tuks, the Council’s Licensing Committee will be considering a specific application made by the Largs Viking Festival Committee lodged in late July.

This asks for the licensing of a Land Train in Largs from Saturday 28th August 2021 to Sunday 5th September 2021 – the length of the ‘Largs Viking Festival’.

The proposal is 2 journeys per hour 10.00 – 18.00 (except Saturdays and Sundays, when the times are 09.00 – 18.00).

The route is:

• The Land Train starts on the Promenade at the Festival site.
• heads north and leaves the Promenade at the RNLI station.
• enters the A78 road and drives north along the A78.
• crosses over the southbound lane of the A78 & enters the north access road at Vigingar!
• leaves by the south access road at Vikingar!
• heads south along the A78 to Bath Street.
• turns across northbound traffic in High Street into Bath Street
• along Bath Street to Makerston Place
• leave road at playpark and enter Promenade, rejoining road at May Street.
• Stop there
• Return along Promenade to rejoin road at playpark,
• then north along Bath Street, into Fort Street
• past the Ferry Terminal
• on the Promenade and north to the Festival site.

While on the Promenade the speed will be walking pace. The Land Train will have marshalls.

The Licensing Committee are legally required to consider whether the proposal is suitable or whether it causes unacceptable issues of public order, public safety and public nuisance. One issue will be whether or not the proposal would limit or prevent access by emergency vehicles.

2. The Policy generally

The Council’s Licensing Committee are looking at introducing a licensing scheme to allow up to 4 different public carriage activities in North Ayrshire:

• Land Trains
• Rickshaws, Pedicabs and Tuk-Tuks

The current proposals are for Land Trains and Rickshaws in Largs, but the Committee are also looking at extending the scheme to the rest of North Ayrshire.

There are a lot of issues to be looked at. These are set out in the following document:

• Consultation Document – GEN95 (Rickshaws)

The Committee will meet again later in 2021 to discuss what the Council’s policy should be about the Licensing of each activity.

How to contact us

• If you have views about any of these issues, the Council want to hear from you.
• Send us an email to: licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
• All the responses will be put to the Licensing Committee.