MOTORISTS are frustrated that repairs to a Gourock car park have yet to start — despite the area being fenced off for nearly a month.

Around 30 spaces at the facility, behind Kempock Street, have been out of action since the middle of July to allow for a £500,000 repair to the crumbling sea wall.

But residents and visitors to the town are annoyed that work has not started while they contend with increased town centre congestion.

A reader contacted us to say questions should be asked of councillors and their officials as to why the work was ordered in the height of the Gourock summer season when the town — and swimming pool — are at their busiest and parking is at a premium.

He said: “The bays were cordoned off early July yet no work or activity has taken place since.

“The restriction is currently totally unnecessary and so typical of the lack of vision within our council.” But Inverclyde Council bosses say the project — which is being carried out by Riverside Inverclyde (RI) — is due to start imminently.

They added that 47 temporary car parking spaces have been put in place in front of Gourock Railway Station, compensating for the loss of bays at the Kempock Street car park.

A council spokesman said: “Through RI, plans to incorporate repairs to the sea wall within the wider regeneration project for Gourock town centre are being progressed.

“Additional temporary car parking has been in place since the section of car park was fenced off, which more than compensates for the cordoned off area.” The local authority announced last month that urgent work had to be carried out to fix the seawall, which is badly corroded.

Councillors approved emergency funding for the repairs.

Regeneration firm RI is leading the project, and a wider £5.25 million overhaul which will introduce a new road and one-way system on Kempock Street.

Work on that development is due to start by September at the latest.