North Ayrshire Council has moved quickly to protect public safety and begin the recovery process following the major fire at Irvine’s Forum Centre. With Police Scotland investigating the origin of the blaze, the Council is using its available powers to start demolition works at the severely damaged building so that nearby streets and pathways can be reopened as soon as possible. Demolition contractors are already on site and work is expected to continue over the coming weeks

A fire which has destroyed the former Irvine forum building in Irvine is being treated as wilful police have confirmed this evening. In a statement police Scotland said: Chief Inspector Judith Macgregor, Local Commander for North Ayrshire, said: “We were called to a report of a fire at a premises on West Road, Irvine, around 11.50pm on Monday, 2 February, 2026. “Emergency services remain in attendance, but no injuries have been reported. “The fire is being treated as wilful,

The Irvine Rivergate shopping centre will remain closed to the public this morning following a major fire overnight in the former forum building which is located next door to the Rivergate. The centre said via Facebook: 🚨 Urgent Update: Due to a fire at the Forum last night, the centre is currently closed. Please be aware of the following: No Access: There is currently no access through the Rivergate & all stores will remain closed at the moment. If you usually walk through

Opening hours are set to be expanded at an Irvine early years centre to ensure local families continue to have access to high‑quality, flexible early learning that suits their needs. A review of early years capacity across the area has shown that while most communities have a good match between places and demand, some early years establishments are experiencing growing pressure for childcare spaces. To help meet this rising demand, the Council is proposing a change to the way

A brand new course – funded by the Ayrshire Growth Deal - was launched on Monday to provide a unique opportunity for six unemployed people to be trained to the international welding standard. The IGNITE Welding Course, a transformative training initiative delivered in partnership with industry leaders J&D Pierce (Contracts) Ltd, has been funded through the Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund as part of the wider Ayrshire Growth Deal. This intensive program aims to tackle a skills

Work on restoring one of North Ayrshire’s most beautiful and iconic landmarks started this month. Glasgow-based CBC Stone are carrying out the £435,000 fabric improvements on Kilwinning Abbey, with work – which is weather-dependent – expected to take a number of months. The works will preserve its heritage - and enhance the experience for locals and tourists who visit and are essential to ensure its long-term conservation. These include building fabric repairs and improvement

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland was the venue for the National Concert Band Festival’s Scottish regional festival. Bands were welcomed from all over Scotland and Northern England to perform for the adjudicators Bryan Allen and Heather Nicol. Alongside North Ayrshire Schools’ Senior Concert Band, other bands included: Garnock Valley Community Band, Clyde Wind Ensemble, Stewarton Winds, Durham University Concert Band and Strathclyde University Concert Band. The Garnock Vall

A youth-led group of filmmakers in North Ayrshire are getting ready to direct their next short film. It follows the success of their recent production Piece of Mind filmed in locations across Scotland, including at the walled garden of Eglinton Country Park. Piece of Mind was designed and delivered by young filmmakers of Next Take, these included Max McGregor, Archie Nelson, and BAFTA award-winner Daniel Kerr, supported by Screen Scotland’s Screen Education Fund, North Ayrshi

North Ayrshire Council has published an interim progress report on action that has been planned to help reduce flood risk. The Interim Progress Report on the 2nd Ayrshire Local Flood Risk Management Plan focuses on options to minimise the impact of flooding across Ayrshire, Arran and Great Cumbrae between 2022 and 2028. Under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, 12 Local Plan Districts across the country are responsible for assessing and managing flood risk. Ayrshir

A Scottish hospitality and leisure group will be swinging open the doors to a new Ayrshire coast hotel spa on Tuesday 17 th February, following a major £3million development at The Waterside Hotel. Owned and operated by SimpsInns, the new sea-view spa at The Waterside Hotel in West Kilbride is set to become one of Scotland’s most exciting leisure and tourism developments for 2026, with bookings now open. Once complete in February, Si! Spa at The Waterside will be home to

Five Scottish regions to benefit from a share of a new £140 million UK Government Local Growth Fund. Image - UK Gov Launched today [Thursday 8 January] by Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, the Local Growth Fund will help drive economic prosperity across Scotland. The five regions’ allocations from the programme over the next three years (26/27 - 28/29) are: Glasgow City: £60.9 million Edinburgh & South East: £37.8 million Tay Cities: £19.5 million Ayrshire: £11.8 million

Snow and ice may cause some disruption on Tuesday morning, particularly to travel. Valid 00:01 Tuesday until 11:00 Tuesday An area of mainly light snow will move east across southern Scotland into northern England on Tuesday morning before largely fading and clearing during Tuesday afternoon. A few heavier bursts are possible over the Southern Uplands, the Lake District and the northern Pennines. Most places will see no more than 1-2 cm of snow but a few places over higher gr

Doug Maclean - business writer The Scottish Government has confirmed that it is in advanced talks to take Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership. First Minister John Swinney told the Press Association “It’s a very complex process, but I keep a very close eye on the acquisiition of Ardrossan Harbour. It’s necessary because of the Goverment’s long-term commitment to the delivery of ferry services for Arran from Ardrossan.” Image - Visit Scotland Ardrossan has an integrated ra

Police are appealing for information following a serious crash on the A737 between Dalgarden Mill and Hillend roundabout near Dalry. The incident happened around 7.20pm on Monday, 30 December, and involved a cyclist and a white MG3 Exclusive car Emergency services attended and the cyclist, a 55-year-old man, was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow with serious injuries. His condition is described as serious. The road was closed for crash investigation

Stagecoach South Scotland is celebrating the countdown to Christmas with the launch of its first-ever Golden Ticket Giveaway, offering customers the chance to discover a £10 Love2Shop voucher on selected bus services across Angus, Perth & Kinross, Dundee, Fife, Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. Beginning Monday 22 December, 150 Golden Tickets will be distributed across Stagecoach’s South Scotland, with customers encouraged to “keep their eyes peeled” for festive surprises on board. T

Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland, is undertaking essential resurfacing on the A78 at Monktonhead Roundabout under two phases. Phase A completed in mid-December 2025. Phase B commences early January 2026 and details are as follows: Phase B : A single overnight closure of the A78 southbound carriageway will be in operation from 8pm on Thursday 8th January until 6am on Friday 9th January . Traffic will be diverted via Warrix Interchange to Corsehill Mount Roundabout an

North Ayrshire’s flagship Additional Support Needs school, Lockhart Campus, has recently celebrated the milestone of its four-year partnership with Developing the Young Workforce Ayrshire (DYW). The Business Breakfast celebration, held on Friday 28 November at Lockhart Campus, opened with a speech from Depute Head Teacher John Herd celebrating the school’s flourishing four-year partnership with DYW Ayrshire. The breakfast shone a spotlight on the incredible work of dedicated

Irvine Royal Academy has become the latest secondary school in Scotland, and first in North Ayrshire, to have achieved the prestigious LGBT Youth Scotland Charter of Education Gold Award. A national award, the LGBT Youth Scotland accreditation - awarded by Glasgow based charity, LGBT Youth Scotland - recognises schools that go above and beyond the basic requirements to support LGBT pupils, staff, parents and carers. Being accredited enables schools to share a positive message

This December, Miller Homes Scotland West is supporting local communities in Beith, North Ayrshire, through its Community Fund initiative, awarding two local groups with grants. Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums has been awarded £2,000 and Beith Theatre Group has received £1,000. Photography (L-R) (© Jeff Holmes): Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums has been awarded £2,000 as part of Miller Homes’ Community Fund initiative; Beith Theatre Group has received £1,000 as part of Miller H

Police are appealing for information following a serious crash on South Beach Road in Ardrossan. Around 3.20pm on Thursday, 11 December, 2025, we received a report of a crash involving a MG HS Excite car and a pedestrian. The pedestrian, a 96-year-old man, was taken to hospital where he remains with serious injuries. The driver of the car, a 74-year-old man, was issued with a fixed penalty notice for a road traffic offence. Enquiries are ongoing. Sergeant Gordon Stewart said: