CAR enthusiasts planning a ‘takeover’ of Greenock Esplanade have changed their plans following complaints from residents.

The Tele reported last 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 said they were worried about it.

Now the clubs have met the police and the council to discuss the controversial Esplanade gathering.

Reacting to residents’ worries, the clubs will hold their gathering from 7.30pm to 10pm instead of 11.30pm, and say they will not refer to it again as ‘a takeover’.

Cruise Greenock ‘administrator’, Robert Cairns Jnr, says they are working with the police and council as much as possible to keep everyone happy.

He said: “We also plan on cleaning up afterwards, with members from both clubs out with litter pickers and bags to clean up the mess. 

“We are not bad people.

“We have families just like everyone else.

“All we want to do is show off our pride and joy that we have worked hard to get.

“Our clubs raise money for charity.”

Sergeant Jason Logsdon of the police said it was a brief meeting to highlight the concerns of the community.

He added: “The police and the council will put appropriate measures in place to minimise disruption.”

The council said the possibility of car enthusiasts meeting on the Esplanade has caused a degree of concern among local residents.

A spokesman said: “Working with the police, we have allocated resources to monitor any such gathering — and would like to remind people that any illegal activity will be dealt with appropriately.”

The event is planned for the evening of October 8.