FED-UP residents in a blighted Greenock neighbourhood are demanding bosses let them use a council building as a community centre.

Wellpark Tenants" and Residents" Association has asked for a community resource centre for the Lynedoch Street and Broomhill area so it can run youth nights and pensioners" events.

Broomhill has recently been blighted by gangs of teenage drinkers, and a number of councillors have spoken out against anti-social behaviour in the area.

Residents say they need somewhere which could act as a focal point for the community and give youngsters somewhere to go.

They are looking into whether they can use the council-owned Fitzgerald Centre, in Lynedoch Street, during evenings and weekends. And council bosses have now said they will investigate the idea.

Frank McEntee, of the tenants" and residents" association, said: 'The problem is there isn"t the money to build a new community centre, so we looked into whether we could use the Fitzgerald Centre.

'It would be absolutely fantastic for the community to be able to use it. It would serve the Wellpark community and Broomhill and beyond.

'There"s nothing like that in the area at the moment. There"s nothing for the kids to do. It would be really beneficial.' The issue was raised by ward councillor Chris Osborne, who contacted the council"s corporate director of regeneration and resources, Aubrey Fawcett, on behalf of the association.

Councillor Osborne said: 'Residents around Lynedoch Street have been crying out for a community hall because there isn"t one up there.

'The Fitzgerald Centre is a good centre. It"s not used in the evenings. I believe the council may be considering it seriously.' An Inverclyde Council spokeswoman said: 'The Fitzgerald Centre does not have a letting policy.

'We anticipate a report on community letting going to committee in the New Year and a policy for the Fitzgerald Centre would be included in this.'