Inverclyde council will spend £113m over the next three years on capital projects across the area.

The sum was agreed at the council's special budget meeting.

Inverclyde Council leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: "We are proposing another hugely ambitious capital programme for the people of Inverclyde by investing a further £113m over the period 2013/2016. This will be investment in the infrastructure of the council and the wider community."

Capital investment projects planned over the next three years include:

- £17m on roads, footways and street lighting

-£1.3m on flooding works

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-Over £3.4m on private sector housing support, including aids & adaptations

-£4.3m on the redevelopment of Central Gourock

-£1.2m on a new Inverkip Community Facility out of a total funding package of £1.5m

-£2.8m on our leisure and pitches strategy, including £1.15m on the new Rankin Park grass pitch and pavilion in Greenock

-£3.9m on the refurbishment of the Watt Complex

-Over £41m on our school estate, including nearly £7m on the refurbishments on Ardgowan and St Patrick’s Primary Schools in Greenock and the acceleration of works to both St John’s and Kilmacolm Primary Schools

-£11.8m on modern office accommodation to provide staff with a better and more efficient working environment

-£11.4m on new depots and £4.5m on new vehicles, which better meet the needs of key frontline services.

Councillor McCabe said: "This investment will not only greatly improve the quality of our infrastructure, it will also generate significant economic activity at a time that it is badly needed. It is absolutely vital that this council continues with its investment programme to fuel the regeneration of the area and ensure that we are well placed to deal with the challenges that lie ahead."

(GK)