In 2019, councillors took the unanimous decision to demolish three multi-storey blocks at Riverside Place and build a new development on the site.

Depute council leader Lee Lyons, seconded by independent Bob Shields, sought to get answers on the status of work being carried out at Riverside Place, the full cost of the demolition, the steps the council would need to take to cancel the demolition and the consequences of such a decision. He sought a new report on how the council could refurbish the blocks, along with the costs.

Labour group leader Brian McGinley, who championed the replacement of the flats as part of the last administration, proposed an amendment to continue the current work.

Independent Alec Clark, who was given a senior role by the new administration having been part of the last one, said the buildings were “riddled with asbestos” and questioned how any change in plan could be put in place.

Last month, asbestos was discovered in the flats ahead of the start of pre-demolition work.

Independent Bob Shields, who campaigned prior to his election on the issue of the flats, argued that asbestos could be controlled and that “the word is now more scary than the stuff itself” and if managed could be “harmless”, The Ayrshire Post reports.

He suggested that the figures for saving the flats had been “vastly inflated” suggesting this had been “proved” by expert witnesses.

The amendment to continue the demolition work was passed with 15 in favour with against 10.

A planning application for a residents’ hub has been submitted for the site, with the aim of creating a central facility for the communal use of residents of the 90 flats being developed to replace the 234 homes currently in place.