Inverclyde Council have had to appoint an independent reporter to preside over the meeting next month, which will discuss proposals for a new road layout along Kempock Street and through the adjacent car park.

It forms part of a £5.25 million redevelopment of Gourock town centre, which includes a one-way system along the busy main road.

The project is being managed by regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde and work has been under way since November ahead of creating the new road layout.

But officials still have one more hurdle to overcome by introducing a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to enforce the one-way system.

One objection has been made to the proposed order, which means — under law — a public hearing must now take place.

It will be held in the Greenock Wanderers’ clubhouse on Thursday 28 May at 10am.

But council officials insist it will not knock the one-way system off course.

A spokesman said: “Any objections to this Traffic Regulation Order will be examined by an independent reporter and a public hearing.

“This is a statutory process and, in the case of the redevelopment of Gourock town centre, will not delay the works being carried out by our partners Riverside Inverclyde.

“We expect the project to be completed on schedule.” The new layout will mean Kempock Street is for westbound traffic only, heading towards Albert Road and beyond.

A carriageway through the car park — to be called Lower Kempock Street — will be solely for vehicles heading towards Greenock, with cars rejoining onto Shore Street near the current entrance to Gourock railway station.

There will be a new station entrance created near to the public toilets on Shore Street.

The full proposals are available to view on the council website www.inverclyde.gov.uk or during office hours, Monday to Friday, in the local authority’s Customer Service Centre, Clyde Square, Greenock, the environmental and commercial services offices on East Hamilton Street, or at Central and Gourock libraries.