Inverclyde Council has prepared a proposal to regenerate the Clune Park area of Port Glasgow to be submitted to the Scottish Government.

The Safe, Sustainable Communities Committee has already been told the only effective solution is to re-house local residents and demolish 430 homes.

Convener Councillor Robert Moran said: “Clune Park has been in decline for at least the past 15 years and a recent survey has suggested more than half of the flats in the area simply aren’t fit to live in. This is a mammoth undertaking and one which the Council needs the help and financial support of the Scottish Government to achieve.”

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Following a visit in March, then Housing Minister Alex Neil MSP agreed to consider a Council regeneration plan for the area. He was also told there needs to be a fundamental change in legislation to allow the Council to act.

Councillor Moran said: “The most important part of this plan to come up with suitable re-housing options for local residents and to work with them to move the plan forward. We are committed to working with our registered social landlord partners and the Scottish Government to improve the lives of the people who live in Clune Park. However there are still substantial hurdles to overcome. Despite our initial £500,000 investment to come up with this proposal significant investment – in the region of £15 million – will be needed. I hope the Minister, after seeing for himself the conditions people are forced to live in – will look on our proposals favourably.”

(GK/KMcA)