Riverside Inverclyde | Port Glasgow

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Port Glasgow

Building on the momentum and goodwill generated by the Town Centre Regeneration Fund project (See below), Inverclyde Council and Riverside Inverclyde now wishes to embark on a further series of intervention and to help stimulate the Port Glasgow economy and generate increased confidence and investment opportunities for local businesses.

Riverside Inverclyde and Inverclyde Council are proposing to undertake a series of environmental improvement projects to derelict land and redundant buildings within the Port Glasgow town centre area and to provide additional car parking. There are several different areas of intervention and the proposed locations for these projects include Princes Street, Coronation Park, Highholm School, the bus station area, and the western approach to the town. See proposals below.

Port Glasgow Regeneration Proposals

Riverside Inverclyde and Inverclyde Council wish to consult with the local community and interested parties on the initial proposals. A public exhibition of the proposals will be held in the Port Glasgow Library on Wednesday 16th November (10.00am to 1.00pm) and Thursday 17th November (12.00 noon to 7.00pm) at which a representative from Riverside Inverclyde will be available to answer any questions.

Forms will be available for members of the community or interested parties to leave comments for Riverside Inverclyde to consider when developing their proposals further. Comment forms are available for download below. All forms should be received by 30th November 2011.

1. Public Consultation Questionaire (PDF Format)

2. Public Consultation Questionaire (Microsoft Word Format)

Forms can be posted to Geoff Gregory at Riverside Inverclyde, Custom House, Greenock PA15 1EQ or by email to Geoff.Gregory@riversideinverclyde.com .

Comments made to Riverside Inverclyde are not representations to Inverclyde Council. If and when Riverside Inverclyde submits a planning application for any proposals, there will be an opportunity for members of the public and interested parties to make representations on these applications to Inverclyde Council.

Port Glasgow Town Centre Regeneration Fund 2010/2011

In many Scottish towns, the current global economic recession combined with local industrial downturn is having a marked negative impact on town centre retailing. This double blow adversely affects the traditional retail core through reduced expenditure capacity. The vitality and viability of Port Glasgow town centre has been severely damaged. The town centre is showing signs of decline with a number of vacant units and a number of charity shops and discounters.

As a consequence little or no disposable funds are available by business owners to maintain and upgrade their properties and invest in diversification. They become trapped in a spiral of economic decline, consequently a poor visual image is presented, compared to out of town shopping malls and the use made of the town centre by the pubic reduces accordingly.

The new indoor shopping centre at Braehead and the close proximity to Greenock has lead to the residents shopping elsewhere in recent years hence limiting investment in Port Glasgow. The town is struggling to retain its former economic role of offering an efficient, competitive and innovative retail sector.

The town centre’s appearance and numerous vacant premises contrasted with new developments elsewhere so in order to change the perception of Port Glasgow town centre, attract new customers to the retail core and maximise the footfall within the town centre, it was agreed that the entrance portal to the town centre from the A8 required to be better highlighted and the main shopping street (Princes Street) required upgrading from to provide more distinctive, modern and welcoming image to visitors. These new customers will help sustain vitality and encourage enterprise to flourish in the retail and service sectors.

The improvements were achieved by introducing new bespoke quality Port Glasgow entrance signage, landscaping and public art at Fore Street which are all designed to convey a perception of a modern, vibrant, town centre. A granite plinth has been provided, which is the base for a new public art sculpture which was the winner of a local voting poll and is currently under construction and will be installed later in 2011.

Princes Street, John Wood Street and Shore Street also required cosmetic treatment to be applied to shops and building facades to convey an impression of more individual, specialised and interesting retail outlets. This was achieved by improving shopfronts and window graphics, introducing bespoke, quality shop signage and constructing a new glass rain canopy The canopy has had the practical effect of keeping shoppers out of the rain but also the visual effect of uniting the shops into one pleasant coherent shopping parade. In addition Parklea, a local training group, provided floral displays in the form of hanging baskets and has planted the large concrete plant boxes opposite the town hall and at the town entrance.

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