Inverclyde Council has announced that work has begun on the first of five new or replacement Inverclyde play parks as part of a £350,000 project.

Contractors have begun on site at Wellpark in Greenock where the smaller of the two play areas is being completely replaced.

Over the coming weeks and months there will also be new equipment installed at Craigend, also Greenock, Coronation Park in Port Glasgow, and King Street and Lunderston Bay, both in Gourock.

Inverclyde Council is investing just over £355k in the five sites, including £200k alone on a major new play park at Lunderston Bay.

Councillor Michael McCormick, convener of environment and regeneration, said: "We have a proud track record of investing in play parks right across Inverclyde to ensure they are modern and inclusive for our children, young people and their families to enjoy and make the most of the great outdoors.

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"The pandemic has made us all appreciate getting out and about and we want to encourage people to continue to explore what’s on their doorstep and make the most of it.

"These new or replacement play parks will be welcome additions to the existing portfolio of wonderful outdoor facilities we have."

Work on upgrading the Wellpark play area, which includes new equipment and surface, is expected to take a fortnight and cost around £45,000.

There are currently 53 council-owned play areas across Inverclyde – an increase of eight over the last decade – and a further 16 facilities in housing estates that are not managed or maintained by the local authority.

Once the latest new or replacement facilities are completed there will be 32 inclusive play areas across the district compared with five in 2019.

Work will be carried out at the rest of the sites in phases over the coming weeks and months through until the summer, subject to weather and market conditions.