FORTY local jobs have been created with the opening of a new B&M Store at Port Glasgow’s retail park.

Provost Robert Moran cut the ribbon yesterday, cheered on by many of the staff, and said he was delighted to welcome the jobs.

He recalled how he helped to cut the first turf at the retail park, which has attracted many big names.

And he stressed that he believed there was room in Inverclyde for shopping centres in the Port as well as in Greenock.

The Provost said: “They complement each other and help to make Inverclyde a better place to live. B&M have a shop in Greenock, too, for example, and Lidl have one in the Port and are increasing the size of their Greenock store.

“The Port Glasgow and Greenock centres are offering bigger choice for people from Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire.

“I know someone from Old Kilpatrick who does his shopping at Tesco in Port Glasgow because he prefers it to shops in Clydebank or Glasgow, and he’s now also going to shops in the Port retail park.”

The Provost predicted a bright future for the retail park, saying it would be popular with people from Kilmacolm, Langbank and Bishopton.

He said. “There’s a good mixture of shops, and it will be a great success.”

B&M store manager, Nikki Middleton, said the company were delighted to open their new venture in Port Glasgow and create a mixture of full and part-time jobs for the local community.

She said: “We had 130 applications for the jobs, and it was difficult to choose who would get them. All of the staff are looking forward to serving our customers here in Port Glasgow.”

The shop, which includes a garden centre, has already forged a close bond with Ardgowan Hospice, and has made a £250 donation to the charity’s funds.

Nikki explained: “We wanted to link up with a local charity, and the hospice really stood out for as as they go the extra mile for the community.

“We wanted to give them some VIP treatment as a ‘thank you’ for all of the hard work they do, and we hope to have continuing events with them.”

The hospice was represented at the opening by head of development Michelle Burns and head of integrated care, Ian Marshall.

Michelle said: “We are very pleased to receive the donation from B&M, and look forward to working with them in the future.”