MCGILL’S today threatened to pull out of Inverclyde after buses were snowed in at their Greenock HQ yesterday.

Company chiefs were left fuming that services started almost three hours late, leaving around 4,200 early morning passengers stranded because of heavy snowfall brought by Storm Doris.

Managing director Ralph Roberts has slammed Inverclyde Council’s response to the extreme weather claiming the local authority is ‘badly led’.

Earnhill Road, leading to the company’s Larkfield headquarters, was thick with snow – preventing vehicles getting in or out, with buses not leaving until after 8am.

But council bosses have hit back, saying the road was gritted several times throughout Wednesday night and yesterday morning. They say conditions were ‘challenging’ for staff, with over five inches of snow falling in a short space of time.

Mr Roberts says he has been approached by other local authorities keen to lure the company away from Inverclyde but that the owners – Greenock businessmen James and Sandy Easdale – are against the idea.

But he revealed the idea is back on the table after yesterday’s events - and it could lead to the loss of 70 jobs.

Mr Roberts said: “The owners of McGill’s have chosen to retain the head office in Inverclyde, even though the bulk of the business trades out with Inverclyde nowadays.

“The owners are always keen to see that Inverclyde gets a high level of fleet investment for new buses.

“The result is a vibrant business that provides a bus network that is the envy of most of Scotland.

“Other local authorities have made many approaches to have us relocate our head office to their area but this would mean Inverclyde losing up to 70 jobs.

“I shall now have this on the agenda at our next board meeting because not all local authorities are as badly led as Inverclyde.”

In a stinging statement, Mr Roberts said he and his staff were well aware of the impending severe weather but that the council ‘seem to inhabit an alternative universe’.

He said Earnhill Road was ‘impassable’ and that the company had used its own grit and snow plough to try and clear the way but it was like ‘using a toothbrush to sweep the kitchen floor’.

Mr Roberts added: “I have a message to Inverclyde Council; take an interest in the companies that are still trading in Inverclyde and don’t ignore them until it’s too late.”

But local authority bosses say Earnhill Road was among the priority routes and that staff responded to calls from McGill’s.

A council spokesman said: “On Wednesday night, in advance of snow falling and low temperatures, our gritters were out across Inverclyde pre-preparing primary routes.

“They were out at 9pm on primary routes, which included Earnhill Road.

“They were out again from 2.30am to 4.30am on primary routes and that also included Earnhill Road.

“As heavy snow showers were reported on higher routes, our teams were diverted onto the pre-planned snow routes.

“These snow routes are all available to see on the ‘gritting route maps’.

“We received a call about heavy snow at Earnhill Road from McGill’s at 5.50am and as soon as the routes the gritters were on were completed, a gritter was dispatched to that location.

“If any individual or organisation believes that it is important that a particular route is re-prioritised and can make a compelling case for that, we would be delighted to hear from them.”