CAR enthusiasts planning a ‘takeover’ of Greenock Esplanade insist they are not out to cause trouble.

The Tele reported this week how hundreds of members of Cruise Greenock and Glasgow Modified car clubs are promoting a four-hour ‘end of season’ event on the waterfront next month.

In a message posted online, they appealed to their members to ‘keep it legal as much as possible’.

That prompted Inverclyde Council to tell them to stay away if they can’t keep the peace, while householders say they find the event ‘very alarming’.

But today Cruise Greenock ‘administrator’, James McCartney, said they are on the side of the residents and want to discourage anti-social behaviour by boy racers.

James, 24, said: “We haven’t tried to hide this cruise.

“We told people about it at a Greenock West and Cardwell Bay Community Council meeting, although some of their members are denying we mentioned it.

“This will be a ‘static’ event — that means we will simply park our cars and get out to talk to each other.

“Some of the people will have their children with them.

“It’s a family type of thing we’ve done before in Greenock at car parks, it’s not about boy racers.”

Asked about the club’s online request to members to ‘keep it as legal as possible’, James said: “They must be totally legal. We don’t want residents to be disturbed — we’re on their side. This is just a gathering.”

The event is planned for the evening of October 8.

The council, who are already considering placing permanent speed and surveillance cameras on the Esplanade to prevent it being used as a racetrack, have warned that residents must not be disturbed by the drivers.