Plans to redevelop Gourock harbour

David Moroney • Published 5 Jul 2011 12:00 29 Comments

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MAJOR plans for Gourock could see the creation of a new boat harbour and Kempock Street becoming a one-way road.

Inverclyde Council's regeneration committee yesterday approved outline proposals to redevelop central Gourock and the pierhead.

Urban regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde has drawn up a masterplan for the area including a link road between the pierhead and Kempock Street.

Regeneration convener, councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld said "Developing central Gourock is a key priority for the council and we have already promised £2.2 million worth of investment in this financial year.

"The outline proposals provide badly needed car parking facilities and also provides opportunities for leisure, retail and commercial investment.

"These opportunities will be advertised over the next 18 months to two years to assess interest."

The proposals consist of six phases of development, which include a new link road connecting the pierhead with the Kempock Street car park - providing additional car parking and improvements to public spaces.

Councillor Ahlfeld added: "We did look at the option of a by-pass to alleviate some of the traffic issues through the town centre but this is just not possible with the budget available.

"However, we are going to explore the option of developing a one-way system on Kempock Street and the new link road.

"The current congestion in this part of Gourock is likely to get worse because of the loss of the car ferry between Gourock and Dunoon as all traffic from the east will now pass through the town heading for the Western Ferries terminal at McInroy's Point.

"This will be available for public consultation through the planning process."

The outline proposals also include the creation of a new harbour that will allow up to 20 visiting leisure craft to moor in Gourock at any one time.

Regeneration vice convener councillor Stephen McCabe said: "These are impressive proposals given the current financial climate and I am pleased we have been able to allocate a significant sum of money towards transforming the pierhead area of Gourock.

"With the expertise of Riverside Inverclyde and the commitment from the council, I am confident we can move these proposals forward and deliver on our promise to regenerate central Gourock."

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 05 Jul 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

impartial
169 posts
Jul 5, 12:15
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A link road will probably require sheet piling of the foreshore and back filling with rubble. The piling is an expensive and lengthy operation requiring specialised machinery and or barges. A link road and a bypass will both require almost identical piling operations and I fear that by opting for the slightly cheaper link road the chance of a future bypass will be forever lost. Can't the extra monies be found to upgrade the proposed link road to bypass before its too late?

Also the backs (shore side) of the properties and business premises on Kempock street were not normally intended to be seen and as such are not very bonny. I'd imagine, anyone passing Gourock either by link road or bypass are going to have a very missguided impression of the town.

Recommend? Yes 24 No 2
Tiddles
1077 posts
Jul 5, 14:26
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Same old, same old. I'll believe it when it happens. This is just a reapplication for the same thing of ten years ago.

Recommend? Yes 16 No 7
Weapon
95 posts
Jul 5, 15:00
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I was just about to post the same thing, Tiddles.

"Heard it!", as they used to say in the local vernacular...

Recommend? Yes 13 No 8
Tiddles
1077 posts
Jul 5, 18:12
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Yep, I have just had it RELIABLY confirmed that it is merely resubmission to keep, 'options' open. There are NO funds to complete or even start the job. Funny that the application for the Sainsbury's was submitted at the same time???????

Recommend? Yes 12 No 6
Spring2012
6 posts
Jul 5, 18:26
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I have not lived in Gourock for 26 years and I am sure this was spoken about before but nothing has been done so here's hoping Gourock will have a nice seafront again that I rember as a child

Recommend? Yes 7 No 2
Spring2012
6 posts
Jul 5, 18:28
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I have not lived in Gourock for 26 years and I am sure this was spoken about before but nothing has been done so here's hoping Gourock will have a nice seafront again that I remember as a child

Recommend? Yes 5 No 2
myfindhorn
278 posts
Jul 5, 18:30
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Now, I wonder what scullduggery our infamous council is up to now, lets be honest about it, they always promise us a £1 and take away £10, nope I will beleive it when I see it .

Just had a thought are you sure thay are not going to build luxury flats and a private marina.......NO !! Oh well we shall have to wait till they open the lucky bags.

Recommend? Yes 10 No 6
tonymahon1
1 post
Jul 5, 19:16
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Hello fellow people,

I was thinking the same as tiddles here,

Isn't it a coincidence that this is all happening at the same time as the sainsburys proposal

Recommend? Yes 9 No 5
supergrassmum
1 post
Jul 5, 19:52
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What is the problem here? Last time I visited Gourock was because I wanted to, and things are changing??? Well, I hope tings are for better as we must all move on in our lives.

Who is this mr.toma, I am interested, is he a gang leasder? mafia?

I left Gourock at the age of 9 and now overseas but would like things left as they were when I go back to visit with my lovely family once again.

This place sounds so very different, not good! hey everyone wal mart is the same here!

Has everyone gone nuts!?

Recommend? Yes 3 No 6
Tiddles
1077 posts
Jul 5, 19:57
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You might say that supergrassmum, you might very well say that but I couldn't possibly comment!

Recommend? Yes 5 No 3
StuartH
47 posts
Jul 5, 22:42
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What a bunch of cynics you all are !!!!

How many of you are Gourockians? Damn few I bet.

I have heard all your stories since 1980 about plans for redeveloping the town and none were believable.

I will comment no further,but look forward to sticking up 2 fingers to the doubters by the end of the year...

(tongue now firmly removed from cheek)

Recommend? Yes 7 No 9
Chris31
10 posts
Jul 6, 00:23
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Look folks Mr Toma whatever his motives, good bad or indifferent let him be, he wants to make a few quid so what? in this day and age whats wrong with that?I think what annoys evryone is that this potential devlpmnt could have a real adverse effect on kempock st.its not Roland fault he's only there to make a few quid,look at the councillors and the Gourock community Council who are prepared to let this go through!look up the website of the comm council and see what has been going on.some people protest that they want to benefit Gourock but they protest too much!!!!if the community of Gouock really dont want this let the elected reps Know, go to the next Comm council and voice their opinion, let them know we are not happy.This is the chance to let elected reps know our opinion(they usually go xcept T.loughran for whatever reason!)Cllr A & Gw are there so tell them that this is wrong

Recommend? Yes 2 No 6
hazelkaye
224 posts
Jul 6, 15:02
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You only have to look at Fort William to see a very similar situation where the A82 bypass skirts the shore! At least Gourock's station (in the process of a long-overdue refurbishment won't be lost in the way that the old one at Fort William was - sacrificed for the new shoreline road!!

Recommend? Yes 6 No 1
Chris31
10 posts
Jul 6, 20:35
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Does it matter if you live in Gourock, or cant you make a comment if you do/dont?

Recommend? Yes 7 No 6
echosounder
130 posts
Jul 6, 21:26
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@CHRIS31

You got this slightly wrong! The chance to let the elected representatives know what we think came last month - and look what we got............the "Undertaker"!!!!!!

Recommend? Yes 6 No 1
LindaScott
1 post
Jul 6, 22:42
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I'm a regular shopper in Gourock and the town should be improved but not to the detriment of the lovely seaside town atmosphere it has - nor to the detriment of the shops who have worked together and put the hard effort in to make Gourock a great wee place to spend some time. I'll add that it's a disgrace that Scottish Parliament, local council and Caledonian MacBrayne allowed the Gourock car ferry to be stopped.

Recommend? Yes 7 No 2
Stephen4
39 posts
Jul 7, 02:20
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Instead of putting money around the town, why not put money into the town, I would just like to know the definate motives behind this?

Is it for the small shops from cardwell bay, shore street and kempock street?

I am trying hard not to be cynical, but for whom is this actually for, at such expense?

I allready suggested to a councillor that the bay hotel grass area will make an excellent car park at a fraction of the cost and will help the main car park from the amount of railway commuters leaving their cars and also help shore street too.

The old saying goes, theres always a motive!

Recommend? Yes 9 No 1
Graeme40
10 posts
Jul 7, 12:39
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How many times have we heard this from a Labour council, but when it come to following through with it they bottle it in favour spending the money in the east end and the port where all their voter are.......Time the people if inverclyce booted this lot of rot, out of the council never to return... Labour stands for "NO Job dont worry we'll look after you and to hell with the hard working people who live here"

Recommend? Yes 6 No 1
maccaboy
15 posts
Jul 7, 14:13
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hmmm, I don't know where you lot get your negativity pills from but BOY they're strong.......

Recommend? Yes 5 No 5
Tiddles
1077 posts
Jul 7, 19:31
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Well maccaboy, my pills give me the gift of clear thought and insight, would you like some?

Recommend? Yes 10 No 3
Gordy
5 posts
Jul 9, 18:20
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I agree we have heard it all before, I'm sure it was originally discussed 20 years ago. I visited Gourock last time i was home and was shocked at the state of it, what is the monstrosity at the front of the train station ???

How much did the brick walling cost at the side of cleats ?? was that necessary ??

And please tell me what is happening to the pool ?

Recommend? Yes 3 No 1
scotslad73
1 post
Jul 10, 12:08
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Originally from Greenock but many a year spent socialising and fishing etc in Gourock, The comments on here are typical of the negative Inverclyde attitude,I left Inverclyde at 16 to join the forces and have travelled far and wide after that I went to University and enjoyed another further opportunities to travel and see different cultures,beliefs and values. I love Inverclyde and feel ashamed that its beauty and scenery has not been utilised to its full potential, but I realise that its not just Goverment or local Goverment that is responsible for development its the role of the people themselves to get involved in projects, to hold the councillors etc to account, the negative attitude and the poor me attitude I hear from friends and family make me angry, if your not happy then do something about it, for years corruption and failings was rife in the labour led council, but what did the people do when they had the opportunity to send their Mps and Councillors a wake up call! yep u guessed it they voted Labour. Wake up Inverclyde a new political dawn is upon the rest of Scotland something that will see the rest of the country benefit from, you need to stop moaning and start being active in your towns destiny!

Recommend? Yes 10 No 1
Stephen4
39 posts
Jul 10, 20:42
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It all depends what sort of revolution you are talkning about scotslad73, If it's about keeping a" local" community together then yes I am for you, as I feel Gourock is at a point of a very uncertain change, kind of like russian roulette, are there any guarantees for what such impact will make in the end? I have my doubts, and strongly too.

The proposals will indeed happen and this is a colabiration with riverside inverclyde which will include a series of phases 12345 or so on, plans are allready in action so it's a question of how these phases are produced and it will be upto the local people to ask at the end of the day.

Everyone has their own opinion and what they wish for so please do ask and the local councilors are there to listen to your views which I am certain they will be happy to listen to your views.

Recommend? Yes 9 No 1
underthewheel
24 posts
Jul 10, 22:03
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I note it's under the banner of Riverside Inverclyde. Is this not the same bunch that have had funding cuts? And responsible for the shambles at the sugar warehouse in Greenock? They never finish anything.. more half cocked projects to mess about with to divert attention from one to another.. As noted above these plans are just a rehash of what has been promised before and look what happened there. Everytime there is redevelopment work the local businesses get upset if a national brand looks interested... looks liek they are happy as it is. Lets get the station finished first - it still looks a complete mess to the passer by, then maybe this can happen. Oh and if possible on/under budget and on time

Recommend? Yes 6 No 1
Stephen4
39 posts
Jul 11, 11:33
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Can't agree more underthewheel, there is far too much money being wasted on silly things, like statues and sculptures etc, as to the station, this doesn't surprise me, it wouldn't even surprise me if they decide to demolish it and build it further back, too many questions are going unanswered here once again!

Recommend? Yes 9 No 2
Tiddles
1077 posts
Jul 11, 15:34
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Yep, too much expenditure on frivolous junk like, 'street furniture'. Wouldn't it be nice if Inverclyde Council canvassed the opinions of all the Inverclyde businesses an an effort to come up with a scheme that is both practicable and acceptable?

Since I came to live in this area forty years ago, I have always been struck by the number of hair-brained little plans that have seeped out of Gourock from the same people. A little Kempock Street group who appear to have their own interests above all else yet at the same time, claiming to care about their town.

There was a Gourock trust a few years ago that claimed to represent the community and the local businesses and it ended up as a blood bath with them all trying to slit each other's throats. Of course, weren't Mr Toma and many of chums part of that?

I freely admit that I live in Greenock and so Gourock is not a big picture on my wall but there are times when the refreshingly village-like atmosphere of the town provides Mrs Tiddles and me with a jolly hour or two. And, as I think I have mentioned, Mrs Tiddles does all our fruit and veg shopping in McGlone's. She used to love the East End Bakery too but I gather that has gone which is a great shame.

Gourock could be breathtakingly beautiful with walkways and proper access to the splendid views. A supermarket is not an asset as has been hammered out on another thread. However, a Weatherspoons, a Harvesters or some such thing could really bring people and families in. Parking could be tackled too with thought given to the old bay site for this purpose (good idea Stephen). For those who always harp on about putting a supermarket there, take a look at how little space there is. The Bay Hotel was a big building but that was only because it was multi-storey. Most of the land down there belongs to the railway and they need it.

Anyway, all of this is academic because in this world of financial restraint and global monetary collapse, no one has the kind of money to carry out any of these so-called plans. Perhaps next year, with a new Council, Gourock might get something at last but don't count on it, the Council Accounts will be in tatters when the chickens of the Tall Ships come home to roost.

My goodness, 150 postings, Mrs Tiddles reckons I should end it at 200!

Recommend? Yes 12 No 3
rod2mc
293 posts
Jul 12, 15:51
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ah the new harbour, which is not a new idea, oh and the Marina, the hotels etc.........................it'll never materialise!

Recommend? Yes 2 No 1
brianpaul
1 post
Jul 12, 22:14
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As an ex-pat Gourockian who visits regularly I dispair at how much the town has deteriorated in the past 15 years. Inverclyde needs to wake up and smell the coffee and realise that it sits on an absolute gem of a natural environment. What is the Tourism strategy? Where would anyone stay? The only decent local hotel (The Gantock) now lies a an eyesore of dereliction! I hope that this new plan works however it feels like it lacks a BIG ambition.

Recommend? Yes 6 No 1
Scriberoo
1 post
Jul 14, 01:17
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So many serial cynics on this website. I'm not disputing the area is in need of a face-lift (brianpaul has hit it on the head) but why don't you make a difference and contribute something, instead of sucking yer thumbs?

Recommend? Yes 2 No 1

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