ELECTION candidates are calling for James Watt’s name to be returned to Greenock’s college campuses.

Liberal Democrats Alasdair Higgins and Robbie Henderson say there was no proper consultation with the public several years ago when James Watt College was merged with two others to form West College Scotland (WCS).

Mr Higgins is contesting ward four, Inverclyde North, and said he believed it would improve the college’s identity to bring back the former name.

He said: “We’re not suggesting that the name West College Scotland should be removed, but that the Greenock buildings should be sub-titled as James Watt campuses.

“I believe staff at the time were unhappy about the James Watt name being removed.

“Inventor James Watt of Greenock is, and always will be, one of the greatest Scots. We must celebrate this at every chance. The name should never have been changed, and we feel we need to sort this out because the college has lost part of its identity. Losing the James Watt brand was not a good idea.

“We as a community need to be proud of what we have achieved historically, and what we can do in the future to make this area somewhere we can be proud of for generations to come. We have produced some of the best engineering people in the world.

“The more we can do to promote the local area from our great history of shipbuilding and engineering the better.”

Mr Henderson, who is fighting ward two, East Central, said he believed that reviving the James Watt connection with the college would interest many of the cruise ship visitors to Inverclyde.

He said: “Putting the name back on the college might encourage tourists to visit the campuses. There’s still a council road sign at the top of Nicolson Street directing people to ‘James Watt College’, but it would be good to see the name back on the college itself.”

The candidates’ enthusiasm for bringing back James Watt, however, is not shared by WCS bosses.

A spokesperson said: “The college has no plans to re-name any of its campuses.”