PLANS are in place to ease parking problems and congestion in the centre of Greenock.

Councillors will this week decide whether to approve an extension of the residents’ parking permits scheme for people living in places such as busy Bearhope Street and East Shaw Street, as well as nearby Shaw Place and the north end of Regent Street.

It’s hoped this will make it easier for locals to park their vehicles outside their homes – and prevent non-residents from stopping there all day.

Ward councillor Jim Clocherty has been calling for the extension to ease parking problems for constituents living in central Greenock.

Mr Clocherty said: “It allows residents early in the morning and late at night that certainty of a parking place.

“We don’t want to stop people parking here, but to stop it becoming a car park and people parking there all day.

“It’s not a magic wand and it won’t fix everything, I know that, but hopefully it’s an improvement.”

Local authority officials are recommending that councillors on the environment and regeneration committee approve the extension when they meet in the Municipal Buildings tomorrow.

It will also apply to Duncan Street, between East Shaw and Roxburgh streets, Trafalgar Street, from Shaw Place to Regent Street, Mearns Street, between Shaw Place and Regent Street, Bank Street, plus a small section of Shore Road in Wemyss Bay.

Officials say the initial parking scheme for town centre residents, introduced in April last year, has ‘bedded in well’ and are now proposing to extend it to nearby areas following a number of requests.

Depute council leader Mr Clocherty is also still promoting the idea of using some of the large pavement on East Shaw Street – near the Sir Michael Street end – for additional off-street parking and allow traffic to pass more freely along the road.

He said: “There are utilities under the pavement so that’s why that’s not happened yet.

“But I am still pursuing that.

“The first thing is that hopefully at the next committee meeting, the extension of the residents’ parking permits is agreed.”

Tomorrow’s meeting starts at 3pm and is open to the public.