Report to the People
5th February 2007
Transport
Project Can’t Hit the Buffers
After
years of, depending on your point of view, dogged progress or dithering, the
new £20 million Gourock transport interchange project is finally moving
forward. Not
only will the ambitious plan improve local transport links, it will boost our
economy with the creation of leisure and business opportunities, 300 full-time
jobs, a new marina, a hotel and new homes.
As well as raising a glass,
though, Gourock residents will also be forgiven for raising questions over why,
when the private sector developments further east along the waterfront are
proceeding at pace, they have waited so long for such an important project.
They’re also entitled to
ask how they can be confident that this project is going to be delivered within
the proposed five-year timescale. The
Gourock development must not become, for example, another Victoria Harbour
fiasco. Inverclyde Council’s sign
on that site still optimistically promises that work on a “prestigious harbour-side
development” will begin in 2003/4. But, four years later, not so much as a brick has been laid.
To avoid the same fate, there
must be a concerted effort from all concerned to overcome any remaining
stumbling blocks. As Cal Mac’s
headquarters have been saved from a move to Oban or Stornaway, for example, the
ferry operator now needs a new base in Inverclyde. Inverclyde Council therefore needs to move fast
to help them identify a suitable site, preferably in Gourock.
The prize on offer is
unlocking Gourock’s massive potential - but we’ll only get one shot at it.
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