Former Ayrshire MP Sir Brian Donohoe has branded plans to introduce car parking charges in North Ayrshire as "total folly."
The retired politician this week spoke out to throw his weight behind a campaign to save free parking in Irvine, Kilwinning, Saltcoats and Largs.
He reckons implementing parking charges would be a commercial disaster for the local economy, particularly in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and is calling on North Ayrshire Council to think again.