A GOUROCK councillor says local motorists face chaos after plans to remove parking restrictions off Kempock Street were thwarted.

The SNP’s Chris McEleny wanted to introduce a residents’ parking scheme, similar to one already operating elsewhere in Inverclyde, in the town centre.

He and indepedent councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld tried to push the proposed solution through at a council meeting.

But he says that they received no support for the proposal from Labour members.

Councillor McEleny told the Telegraph: “I attempted to improve the current parking arrangements, which are not fit for purpose.

“Having received overwhelming representations from residents, I brought forward a motion that would have allowed people to park in the area without fear of financial penalty.

“This was also supported by independent Gourock councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld.

“However we were prevented from doing this as not one Labour councillor would support us.

“Now we face months more of parking chaos which could have been ended.”

Councillors agreed at a meeting in March that a survey of on and off-street parking should be carried out in May, with the results being published the following month.

Councillor Ahlfeld thought the suspension of disc controlled parking in Lower Kempock Street would be an option.

But to do this required the suspension of standing orders.

Mr Ahlfeld said: “Had this been achieved we would have immediately proposed free parking, pending the results of the survey currently underway.”

The vote was 6/5 in favour but a two-thirds majority was required and the motion failed.

Councillor Ahlfeld added: “I personally have been inundated with requests for preferential parking. In my nine years representing Gourock I have never experienced this crescendo of complaints. 

“Presumably they wanted to await the survey results, as did I, however we considered that immediate suspension of traffic restrictions was a sensible way to go.

“Additionally the community council had asked us to try to find an immediate solution. This was our best shot. 

“It was very disappointing. I feel that we have let down the literally dozens of people who have made representations to us.

“Had our proposal succeeded it certainly would have made life easier for residents and traders who I have always considered as vital in regenerating our town.”

Council leader Stephen McCabe said: “The committee only on March 3 agreed unanimously to carry out the survey in May, before and after the opening of Gourock Pool, which will be fed into a report before the end of June.”

He added that to try to change this proposal would be a ‘recipe for confusion’ and once the results came back an arrangement would be put in place that everyone could sign up to.

Councillor McCabe said: “The council should listen to the community council and the views of Gourock councillors. Unfortunately they keep changing their minds. They approved the proposals currently in place, then came up with proposals to remove the arrangements.

“The aim of parking is that it should be sustainable in the long-term and strike the right balance between the interests of residents and interests of business.”

The new car park arrangements were introduced in January and allow free all-day parking in the western half (closest to the pool) and up to three hours free parking in the eastern half.