Inverclyde Council is seeking a demolition contractor for the first phase of works in the Clune Park estate in Port Glasgow.

The Council's Environment and Regeneration committee heard that nearly 140 flats, as well as the former school and church within the estate, are ready to be brought down.

The local authority is now seeking a demolition contractor to carry out the works.

It comes after 138 dangerous building notices were served on properties across 15 tenement blocks with no appeals having been received meaning the council can now progress with demolishing unsafe properties.

Permission has also been granted to bring down the former Clune Park school and church.

The residential properties, school and church have all been badly affected by deliberate fires and anti-social behaviour in recent years.

The committee was also told that another two tranches of dangerous buildings notices have also been issued.

Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council's convener of Environment and Eegeneration, said: "This is a significant milestone for Clune Park and one that I'm sure will be welcomed by the majority of people in Inverclyde and particularly Port Glasgow residents.

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"The council has a legal duty to ensure buildings across Inverclyde are safe and properly maintained and a responsibility to act accordingly if and when properties do not meet the necessary standards.

"Following extensive checks by our own building standards team and external surveyors, dangerous buildings notices were served on an initial 138 properties and with no appeals having been received, a demolition contractor will now be appointed to demolish these residential properties, if these works are not carried out by the owners, as well as the former school and church, which are in the council's ownership.

"While progress to regenerate Clune Park has been incredibly difficult, a huge amount of work has been taking place in the background and I would like to thank all involved for their extensive and diligent work."

The council has been proactively acquiring properties in Clune Park for a number of years and now owns over half the estate.

Further investigations are taking place to identify other potentially dangerous buildings.

An update report that went to committee said: "Clune Park Regeneration: Dangerous building notices were served on 138 properties across 15 tenement block of flats in the Clune Park estate on 16 July 2024.

"The initial tranche of dangerous building notices had an appeal deadline of Tuesday 6 August 2024 to appeal the Council's enforcement action to the Sherrif Court.

"In addition to the dangerous building notices served on the flats, notices remain extant for the former Clune Park Church and Primary School.

"Both buildings have also recently received approval from the planning department allowing for demolition of the buildings with listed building consent to demolish now granted.

"Tenders are currently being sought for the demolition of the flats, school and church as outlined above.

"The Clune Park estate remains under investigation with further surveys ongoing of other potentially dangerous buildings.

"The estate remains under supervision with CCTV, extra community warden patrols and new security fencing erected to deter entry by members of the public."

People are being encouraged to stay away from the area and take heed of the safety warnings.