Council chiefs have apologised after failing to tell Legion members the lane leading to their Irvine branch would be blocked off for paving work.

Royal British Legion members told the Times they received no notification from the council or contractors after Chapel Lane between Bridgegate House and the King’s Arms building was shut off last week.

North Ayrshire Council have since ‘apologised for any disruption’ and say they expect the lane to be open again by the end of next week.

Veteran Alec Wroe said: “I’m on the committee of the Legion and no one at the Legion has received a letter to say that lane is being closed off, none of the churches have either.

“My wife’s in a wheelchair how am I meant to get her to the Legion on Saturday?

“Are they going to be compensated for losses? The British Legion is going to lose money because people will not come round, nobody has considered any of the businesses.

“I asked one of the workers yesterday how are you supposed to get round, but said that’s not our problem.”

Mr Roe also raised concern over delayed work on Bank Street starting ahead of the Marymass Parade.

He said: “Marymass is in four weeks time and that’s the route the parade goes up. They haven’t even put a shovel into Bank Street yet.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The contractors are hopeful they will finish work in Chapel Lane by the end of next week.

“We apologise for any disruption this may have caused and hope alternative routes into the town are not too much of an inconvenience.

“We are trying to provide as much communication as possible and will work with the contractors to ensure this continues to happen as we near the completion of this project.”

However the council added that it has no statutory provision to compensate businesses.

They also added barriers will be in Bank Street during Marymass with contractors on site during the parade to make sure everything is kept safe.