PEOPLE power could see a Greenock community centre taken over by local residents.

There are hopes that the Branchton Association, which currently runs the facility, will be able to buy it outright from Oak Tree Housing Association.

The group have applied to the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) and, if successful with their bid, will secure the building for future generations.

A spokesperson for the centre said: “It would give us freedom for the future.”

The Scottish Land Fund is a Scottish Government pot which allows local groups to buy assets from public agencies.

The group have been in preliminary talks with Oak Tree, who have agreed to sell the building to the committee for £100,000, even though it is valued at £225,000.

Around 300 local people have backed the idea of community ownership through a survey carried out by the centre.

The association will find out if they have been successful on January 22.

This in turn would be a springboard towards seeking an extra £160,000 to develop the centre.

Money is also in place to carry out improvements outside the building.

The Association’s spokesperson said: “If we get SLF approval it means we will own the centre and that would allow us to refurbish the play area, which has been awarded £109,000 from the government’s Cashback for Communities Scheme.”

It is understood that Inverclyde Council has committed £50,000 to help improve the facility, subject to the committee owning the building.