PEOPLE Greenock are to be given the opportunity to help draw up plans for the regeneration of the town centre.

Following the success of a four day 'charrette' in Port Glasgow which resulted in a masterplan for the area, Inverclyde Council and Riverside Inverclyde are now inviting people and businesses in Greenock to take part in a similar event.

RI and the council are co-hosting the charrette as part of the town’s recently established regeneration forum. 

A charrette is described as 'an intensive consultation' that includes planning workshops which engage local people in the design process for their community.

Workshops will be held in the saloon at Greenock Town Hall over a three day period running from 2-4 March, with a final exhibition in the Oak Mall on Saturday March 5.

The charrette team will set up a design studio in the saloon and host workshops and presentations. The ideas of participants ideas will form the basis of drawings which will be open to the public.

A 'report back' session will take place in the town hall saloon on March 10.

Riverside Inverclyde chair, Gerry McCarthy, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring the charrette process to Greenock town centre. The Port Glasgow town centre community fully embraced this concept of participation, innovation and collaboration. We are looking forward to the same level of enthusiasm from those interested in the future of Greenock town centre. I’d encourage the general public to join in the workshops with the design team in Greenock Town Hall. It’s important to have as many people as possible across, irrespective of background or experience, to contribute to the future of Greenock town centre”.

The aim of the charrette is to prepare a realistic, feasible and integrated regeneration strategy. It will indentify priorities for investment in improving facilities, services, access and the physical appearance of the town centre.

Chair of the Greenock Town Centre Regeneration Forum and deputy council leader, Councillor Jim Clocherty, said: “The charrette will offer lots of opportunities on different days for the public, local businesses and anyone else who is interested to get involved and have their say about the future of Greenock Town Centre. Look out for the detailed programme.”