A TOTAL of £1.4 million is to be spent on improving Inverclyde's roads during the next year.

Council bosses have set aside the sum to be spent on roads, street lighting and improvements to pavements.

Part of the cash will be used to help tidy up access to Bogston train station - which has now been chosen as a main transport hub for this summer's Tall Ships event.

The full programme includes £750,000 for carriageway reconstruction, £250,000 for footway projects and £180,000 on lighting replacement.

More than £1 million has already been committed to repairing potholes in Inverclyde's roads after one of the worst winters on record took its toll.

Councillor David Wilson, vice convener of the safe, sustainable communities committee, said: "This investment is on top of the £1.1 million the council will have spent on pothole and patching repairs by the end of this month and represents a real commitment to solving some of the major issues suffered by motorists and other road users.

"There have been reports in the national press about the billions of pounds needed to bring Scotland's road network up to scratch and I am pleased that, despite the financial difficulties, facing all of Scotland's local authorities we have been able to allocate such a significant sum of money." The investment was approved by councillors earlier this week.

Among the roads being reconstructed are West Glen Road in Kilmacolm, Cardwell Road in Gourock and Union Street in Greenock.

The Bogston ramp, next to Bogston train station, will also undergo work.

Councillor Wilson added: "Bogston train station will be at the centre of travel arrangements for the Tall Ships race in July when we welcome tens of thousands of visitors to Inverclyde.

"This investment will ensure they have an easy transition from trains to the festival site at the James Watt Dock (pictured)." This is where the cash is being spent: Carriageways - Reconstruction Access Road to Pullman Pub, Kilmacolm Kilmacolm West Glen Road, Kilmacolm (High St to Barrs Brae) Kilmacolm Carruth Road, Kilmacolm Kilmacolm Finlayson Rd, (Selected lengths) Kilmacolm B786 (selected lengths) Port Glasgow/Kilmacolm Arran Avenue, (Netherton Ave to Cumbrae Ave) Port Glasgow Port Glasgow Industrial Estate Port Glasgow Scarlow St, (Selected lengths) Port Glasgow Dougliehill Road (Selected lengths) Port Glasgow Princess St, (Shore St to Church St) Port Glasgow Weir Street, (Sinclair St to Weir Place) Greenock Union St, (Selected lengths) Greenock Fox St, (Selected lengths) Greenock Old Largs Road, (Papermill Rd to Beith Rd) Greenock Buchanan St, Greenock Burns Road, (Berwick Rd to Glencairn Rd) Greenock Cardwell Road, Gourock Duthie Road, (Selected lengths) Gourock Golf Road, Gourock Ailsa Road/Hazel Terrace, Gourock Tower Drive, (Victoria Rd to Arran Rd) Gourock Cowal View, (Glenbervie Pl to Golf Club) Gourock Fletcher Ave, Gourock Kirk Ave/Glen Cres/Glebe Rd, Inverkip Minor Works Inverclyde Total Cost of Carriageway Projects £750,000 Footways - Reconstruction Lochwinnoch Rd, (Selected lengths) Kilmacolm Port Glasgow Industrial Estate, (Selected lengths) Port Glasgow Arran Ave, (Selected lengths) Port Glasgow Ardgowan St, (Selected lengths) Port Glasgow Belville St, (Selected lengths) Greenock Nelson St, (Selected lengths) Greenock Robertson St, (Selected lengths) Greenock Union St, (Selected lengths) Greenock Nimmo St, (Selected lengths) Greenock Larkfield Rd/Hilltop Rd, (IRH to George Rd) Greenock Banff Rd, (Selected lengths) Greenock Drumshantie Rd, (Kirn Dr to the Church) Gourock Minor Works (Various Locations) Inverclyde Total Cost of Footway Projects £250,000 Traffic Measures Inverclyde Total Cost of Traffic Measures £50,000 Flooding Intervention Project Inverclyde Total Cost of Flooding £30,000 Bridge Strengthening Inverclyde Total Cost of Bridge Strengthening £100,000 Lighting Replacement Inverclyde Total Cost of Lighting Replacement £180,000 Bogstone Ramp Greenock Total Cost of Bogstone Ramp £25,000 Minor Structural Works Inverclyde Total Cost of Minor Structural Works £15,000 Total Cost of Projects £1,400,000