A NEW £200,000 car park will be just the ticket to help ease parking problems in Greenock town centre, it was claimed today.

The former Dalrymple Street social work headquarters and school building was knocked down last year to make way for 40 bays, including three disabled spaces.

The property was in a serious state of disrepair and deemed surplus to requirements by Inverclyde Council.

It was decided to flatten the derelict building and free up space for a car park to take the pressure off busy West Blackhall Street just around the corner.

Councillor Michael McCormick, convener of environment and regeneration, believes it will provide a boost to shoppers and traders.

Mr McCormick said: “This is a great way to make use of the site after it became clear the old Dalrymple House building needed to be knocked down.

"It enhances the provision of parking needed to encourage business and local investment in the town centre. I’m sure the new parking spaces will be welcomed by shoppers and visitors to the town.”

The council has spent £200,000 on the demolition and formation of the car park which opened on Thursday and is £1-a-day facility.

Parking is free on Saturdays and Sundays, as is the case with all Inverclyde Council car parks.

Cllr McCormick believes the facility – just off Dalrymple Street, one of the key routes through the district – also helps 
improve the look of the area.

He said: “Whenever they realised the building was beyond repair and had to be pulled down, it tied in with what we were doing with parking in the town centre.

“Hopefully it will benefit this end of West Blackhall Street, the restaurants, shops and shopkeepers and folk generally using the town centre.

“There will also be no charge for weekends.

“It helps tidy up the place and I think it will be well used and a busy car park.”

For more information about parking in Inverclyde visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/parking