Port Glasgow Regeneration Update...

I attended a meeting of the Port Glasgow Regeneration Forum this afternoon and was heartened to hear a lot of positive news.

The Forum was shown plans for the new Burger King drive-through restaurant on the site of the former filling station off the A8. Subject to ongoing discussion with Scottish Water, the developer hopes to be on site by late April. This development should greatly improve the site, which is currently an eyesore detracting from the amenity of the town centre.

Forum members were also pleased to hear about the proposed Greggs' restaurant on Princes Street, which will bring a major empty retail unit back into use.

The Council's Corporate Director for Environment and Regeneration, Scott Allan, informed Forum members of the recent allocation of a further £250,000 for Port Glasgow Town Centre in the Council's recent budget. Officers will draw up a list of projects for consideration by the Forum at a future meeting. Members of the Forum warmly welcomed this additional funding.

Mr Allan also briefed the Forum on the feasibility study to be carried out on improved disabled access to Port Glasgow Railway Station. This will be funded by SPT. It is hoped to that the consultants' report will be ready by October 2017.

Alan McClintock of the Council's Technical Services provided a briefing to the Forum on the proposed new £15,000 Toll Boys' Memorial at Caledonia Street to replace the existing memorial in Robert Street. The Forum is very supportive of this project.

Mr McClintock also updated the Forum on the planned £1m works to the King George VI building in King Street, which is the oldest building in Port Glasgow apart form Newark Castle. The Forum agreed to support a request from Port Glasgow Community Association for £15,000 for a feasibility study into the future use of this building.

Neil Lochiel of Riverside Inverclyde provided an update on the lower town centre project, which will see a new spur road off the 'Tesco' roundabout into Princes Street and public realm improvements in front of the town hall. The contract has been awarded to RJ McLeod, who were the contractors on the Gourock town centre redevelopment. It is hoped work will start shortly with the contract period being 26 weeks.

Finally Gary Wilson, Property Director of River Clyde Homes, provided an update on his association's new build development at Bay Street and future investment plans.

As I said, a really positive meeting with lots of good things happening in Port Glasgow.