By Kyle Sharkie

A Blaze at Irvine’s former Forum has raised questions about the flawed infrastructure which causes travel chaos when the Mall is closed.

The shopping thoroughfare connects the town centre with Irvine railway station and harbourside and the fire saw the walkway closed for several hours and commuters facing a travel headache.

The fire at Irvine’s abandoned shopping centre the Forum and Celtic supporters club has sparked concern for the direct route through the historic, coastal town. 

UWSNEWS spoke to 19-year-old student Callum Muir from Irvine, about how his travel was affected by the fire.

The education student said: “The mall being closed meant that I couldn’t get to the station for uni in the morning. I’m from the opposite side of town so I need to get a bus to the mall and walk through it to get to the station. Thankfully it was only affected for one day and not my whole week, I have no idea what I would do if it was.” 

Local and national media have reported that police are treating the as wilful and suspicious and an investigation is underway.